The document provides information about computer malware, including definitions and examples of different types. It discusses viruses, worms, Trojans, ransomware, adware, spyware, file-less malware, and hybrid attacks. It also discusses how anti-virus software works to detect and remove malware and provides sample multiple choice questions to test understanding.
The document provides information about computer malware, including definitions and examples of different types. It discusses viruses, worms, Trojans, ransomware, adware, spyware, file-less malware, and hybrid attacks. It also discusses how anti-virus software works to detect and remove malware and provides sample multiple choice questions to test understanding.
The document provides information about computer malware, including definitions and examples of different types. It discusses viruses, worms, Trojans, ransomware, adware, spyware, file-less malware, and hybrid attacks. It also discusses how anti-virus software works to detect and remove malware and provides sample multiple choice questions to test understanding.
The document provides information about computer malware, including definitions and examples of different types. It discusses viruses, worms, Trojans, ransomware, adware, spyware, file-less malware, and hybrid attacks. It also discusses how anti-virus software works to detect and remove malware and provides sample multiple choice questions to test understanding.
After this lesson, you will be able to answer the following questions: • What is a computer malware? • What are the different kinds of malware? • What is an anti-virus? • How does anti-virus work?
PRE-TEST
Direction: Multiple choices. Encircle the letter of the correct answer.
1. This kind of malware can be used for key-logging and similar activities, thereby helping hackers gain access to personal data. A) Adware B) Trojan C) Hybrid attack D) Spyware 2. A malicious code designed to spread from host to host by itself without the user’s knowledge to perform malicious actions. A) Adware B) Trojan C) Worm D) Spyware 3. Demands a ransom from you to get things back on track. A) Adware B) Ransomware C) Worm D) Spyware 4. It is a type of malicious code or software that looks legitimate but will harm your computer. A) Adware B) Trojan C) Worm D) Spyware 5. A program or set of programs that are designed to prevent, search for, detect, and remove software viruses, and other malicious software. A) Malware B) Operating system C) Application D) Antivirus
1 ROUSING ACTIVITY
INQUIRY QUESTIONS: Directions: Read the given questions below and answer each item by expressing your own ideas in 2 – 3 sentences per item.
1. How would you describe a computer malware in your own words?
A computer virus is a malicious code designed to spread from host to host by itself without the user’s knowledge to perform malicious actions. It imposes harm to a computer by corrupting system files, destroying data or otherwise by being a nuisance. The reason for designing a computer virus is to attack vulnerable systems to gain admin control and steal confidential information Cybercriminal’s prey on online users by tricking them.
Types of Computer Malware
Virus We tend to refer to all malware as viruses, but it is not so. A virus modifies other legitimate host files in such a way that when you execute a file in the victim’s system, you also execute the virus. Today, with different kinds of malware infecting the cyber world, computer viruses have become rather uncommon; they comprise less than 10% of all malwares. Remember, viruses infect other files, they are the only malware that infect other files and hence it is hard to clean them up. Even the best among antivirus programs struggles with this; most of the time they either delete or quarantine the infected file and do not get rid of the virus itself.
Worm A worm is self-replicating and spreads without end-user action, causing real devastation. Viruses need end users to kick them off so that they can go on and infect other files and systems. On the other hand, worms do not need any such end-user action. They had simply spread by themselves, self-replicating in the process and destroying systems, devices, networks, and connected infrastructure as well. Worms spread by exploiting other files and programs to do the spreading work. When one person in an organization opens an email that contains a worm, the entire network in the organization could get infected in just a few minutes.
Trojan Trojans, reminding you of what happened during the Trojan war, masquerade as legitimate programs. However, they contain malicious instructions. Trojans mostly arrive via email or spread from infected websites that users visit. They only work when the victim executes it. A user may 3 find a pop up that tells him his system was infected. The pop up would instruct him to run a program to clean his system. He takes the bait, without knowing that it is a Trojan. Trojans are very common, especially because it is easy to write Trojans. Additionally, they are easy because Trojans spread by tricking end-users to execute them. This effectively renders security software useless.
Ransomware Ransomware, as the name suggests, demands a ransom from you to get things back on track. The main issue with ransomware, which would spread tremendously fast across organizations, networks, and countries, is that they encrypt all files in a system or network, rendering them inaccessible. A ransom note pops up, demanding payment in cryptocurrency, for decrypting the files. If the ransom is not paid, the encrypted files could eventually get destroyed and hence ransomware should be one of the most devastating forms of malware. Most ransomware are Trojans and spread through social engineering. Unfortunately, in some cases, hackers refuse to decrypt files even after you pay the ransom.
Adware Adware is nothing but attempting to expose users to unwanted, potentially malicious advertising. These ads most likely end up infecting a user’s device. There are adware programs that redirect a user, during browser searches, to look-alike web pages that have promotions of other products. Removing adware is easier. You just need to find the malicious executable and remove it.
Spyware Spyware, as the name suggests, helps hackers spy on systems and their users. This kind of malware can be used for key-logging and similar activities, thereby helping hackers gain access to personal data (including login credentials) and intellectual property. Spyware is also used by people who want to keep a check on the computer activities of people personally known to them. Spyware, like adware, is easy to remove.
File-less malware While traditional malware travels and infects systems using the file system, File-less malware travels and infects without directly using files or file systems. Such malware exploits and spread in memory only; they also spread using ‘non-file’ OS objects, like APIs, registry keys etc. File-less malware attacks are mostly initiated with the exploitation of an already existing legitimate program or by using existing legitimate tools that are built into the OS (for example, Microsoft’s PowerShell). Thus, it becomes tough to detect and prevent these kinds of attacks.
4 The hybrid attacks. This is rather dangerous and devastating. Today, we have malware that could be a combination of more than one stream of traditional malware. For example, some malware is part virus, part Trojan, and part worm. Such a malware might appear as a Trojan during the initial stage, after which it would perhaps spread like a worm. There are also bots, wherein the hackers use one kind of malware to gain access to hundreds of computers. Those systems are then used (either by the same hackers or by others who purchase them) to carry out other attacks.
How do I detect a virus on a Windows PC?
It is not always obvious when your computer is infected. Some of the warning signs indicating that your PC or laptop might have a virus, Trojan, worm, or some other kinds of malware are: • A very slow running computer. • Pop-up messages that appear out of nowhere and are hard to remove. • Unrecognized computer programs launching on their own. • The sound of the hard drive-in constant action
Any one of these symptoms might be caused by a virus or a different kind of malware. If you are experiencing two or three of them at the same time, that is a strong indication that you have got a virus. That said, a lot of modern malwares, like spyware and crypto miners, go out of their way to stay as hidden as possible.
*To catch those, you will need to download an antivirus program.
What is Anti-Virus Antivirus software is a program or set of programs that are designed to prevent, search for, detect, and remove software viruses, and other malicious software like worms, trojans, adware, and more.
Why Do I Need Antivirus Software?
These tools are critical for users to have installed and up to date because a computer without antivirus software protection will be infected within minutes of connecting to the internet.
5 What Does Antivirus Software Do? Several different companies build antivirus software and what each offer can vary but all perform some essential functions: • Scan specific files or directories for any malware or known malicious patterns. • Allow you to schedule scans to automatically run for you. • Allow you to initiate a scan of a file or your entire computer, or of a CD or flash drive at any time. • Remove any malicious code detected –sometimes you will be notified of an infection and asked if you want to clean the file, other programs will automatically do this behind the scenes. • Show you the ‘health’ of your computer.
1. A computer malware that helps hackers spy on systems and their users. A) Adware B) Trojan C) Hybrid attack D) Spyware
7 2. A computer malware that travels and infects without directly using files or file systems. A) Ransomware B) File-less Malware C) Hybrid attack D) Spyware 3. Hackers use bots or one kind of malware to gain access to hundreds of computers. A) Ransomware B) File-less Malware C) Hybrid attack D) Spyware 4. A computer malware that redirects a user, during browser searches, to look-alike web pages that have promotions of other products. A) Adware B) Trojan C) Hybrid attack D) Spyware 5. A computer malware that encrypts all files in a system or network, rendering them inaccessible with a ransom note. A) Ransomware B) File-less Malware C) Hybrid attack D) Spyware 6. A malicious code designed to spread from host to host by itself without the user’s knowledge to perform malicious actions. A) Operating system B) Application Software C) Computer Malware D) Anti-virus 7. A computer malware that is self-replicating and spreads without end-user action, causing real devastation. A) Spyware B) Worm C) Adware D) Anti-virus 8. A computer malware that impersonates as legitimate programs. A) Adware B) Trojan C) Hybrid attack D) Spyware
8 9. A computer malware that demands a ransom from you to get things back on track. A) Ransomware B) File-less Malware C) Hybrid attack D) Spyware 10. A computer malware that attempts to expose users to unwanted, potentially malicious advertising. A) Adware B) Trojan C) Hybrid attack D) Spyware
Directions: Find ten (10) key words used in this lesson. Encircle your answer.
A P M E M O R Y H Y B R I D M O D O X X A A S H S D O C S A K V W B O A N S P Y W A R E L H I A A H W S U T T K P O M W H R A D R E O Y U I L A C V A I U M S P E M L S N M N O S R B S N I E C W P V U I T M N E O C Z O A O A P F M O I P R B S O F T W A R E N I T V U E E N C O S E U E S M T A I T K V C H C L T R O J A N D R E A I U O W D E Q U E L Y A U R E R T P D T E B W W O S P S P P D W Q Z E E R O O S I S N A S T W O R M P M I P O U M P U T C
