Spyware

There will be some defective functionality, where the spyware will keep track of the steps the user takes without the user’s knowledge of it. There is also a loss of privacy when spyware has infected a computer. The spyware can send private user information back to the Internet vendor; therefore it reduces the user privacy. There may also be an increased amount of pop-up advertisements on the computer screen while connected to the Inte... ... middle of paper ... ... Anti-Spyware programs. Although spyware is a major problem for computer owners today, the advance of anti-spyware programs from software companies, along with help from the users, will ultimately aid in the termination of spyware altogether.

The Threats of Malware Introduction Along with viruses, one of the biggest threats to computer users on the Internet today is malware. It can hijack your browser, redirect your search attempts, serve up nasty pop-up ads, track what web sites you visit, and generally screw things up. Malware programs are usually poorly-programmed and can cause your computer to become unbearably slow and unstable in addition to all the other havoc they wreak. Many of them will reinstall themselves even after you think you have removed them, or hide themselves deep within Windows, making them very difficult to clean. This guide will detail the different varieties of malware along with basic preventive measures.

Viruses are defined as a piece of programming code that can have devastating effects to one’s computer. Viruses are so dangerous because they can automatically be sent to another computer without one actually sending the program. Viruses most commonly come in an e-mail or attachment, a downloadable file, or on a CD-ROM or diskette. Most of the time, the source of the virus does not even know the virus is contained in the file or program. Some viruses must lie in wait until the computer does something to trigger the code into action.

In most instances, victims are not aware or do not know the perpetrator of the crimes. In some instances, this may include the perpetration of crime and actually committing the crime. With the advancement in technology, there seems to be a new way to commit cyber crime each day and a great number of unsuspecting individuals eventually becomes victims. There are various types of cybercrimes that can be committed with the common ones being Computer Viruses and identity theft which can have damaging effects on individuals and businesses (Search security, 2008). Some of these crimes such as the computer viruses have crushed main servers of companies and thus crippling these kinds of companies since some of them lose important data and information which they have stored electronically.

All of the stories we hear and those annoying emails that warn of a multitude of viruses can lull us into complacency when none of them come to fruition. In all honesty if you have a top-level virus-scanning program such as Norton, or McAfee your machine will be safe from most of the little viruses that you will come across. There is a propensity to copy and mutate existing viruses among the hacker community so they are easily identified and defended against by the scanning programs. Many of the viruses are meant to be detected; it is a high tech game of cat and mouse between the hackers and the Tech security groups. For the most part hackers want their viruses to be caught before they cause major damage.

With computers on the rise, and the government converting to computers, the government needed a way to discourage and prosecute someone that damaged or gained access to the government’s information, and any other kind of computer. This law was also made to protect any kind of businesses computers or servers. The CFAA also is considered a net that Congress throws all the bad fish in. Including “fraud, hacking, piracy, DOS (Denial of Service) attacks, trafficking passwords, (selling, stealing, and buying passwords), and distributing malicious code.” To summarize the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act it protects “anything that connects to the internet”. Computers were on the rise (being used more often), and so were computer crimes.

Many PC users are not aware of the fact that they are also downloading malware along with the free downloads. These malware programs are cunning in that they are designed to accomplish their task without interfering with the system functioning. Most of these malware programs may arrive onto a system by clicking links on social networking sites or certain links on email attachments. Generally all these spam emails with attractive offers actually will lead an infected system to the state of being locked by this malware program. Like any ransomware program, this Policeweblab.com virus will blame PC user that they have been involved in crimes.

Each of these threats is serious in nature and one should act upon it immediately before more damage is done. One type of threat people have to deal with is the annoying malevolent code, better known to most of us as malware and spyware. This type of threat goes through the security system of the individual when that person accesses a website or opens an email that is infected. Malware and spyware are capable of finding ways to get into your computer by loopholes and cement themselves in your system which allows them to copy personal information and worm their way into other computers by emails that you send. These threats can be quite sneaky as they say they will do one thing but instead do a totally opposite thing and in return infects the computer without your knowledge.

Cyber criminals use several different methods to infiltrate business and personal computers; fraudulent marketing schemes, on-line auctions, work-at-home schemes, gambling operations, and spam, just to name a few. Many times home owners and businesses have no idea they have been the victim of a cyber crime. Types of computer crime can sometimes lose their significance when we as citizens wrap it all up into one expression, “computer crime.” There needs to be a further breakdown and a better public understanding of what computer crime actually is and these types of computer crime will hopefully shed some light on the current problems faced today. Cyber terrorism is the convergence of terrorism and cyberspace. It is generally understood to mean unlawful attacks and threats of attack against, computers, networks, and information stored on these mediums.

Spyware is a malicious form of technology that aids in gathering information about an individual or organization without their knowledge or consent. It is used mostly for tracking and storing user movements on the internet initiating pop ups and advertisements for the benefit of a third-party. Spyware also changes the configurations of an individual’s computer settings to the point where it can take over the computer. The computer can then have slower internet connection speeds as well as not having access to the other computer commands. Spyware is usually installed by tricking the individual by hiding in a software bundle which they want to download.