Malware is a term given to describe certain software designed specifically to harm computers. Virus and Spyware are two common types of malware. Also, certain types of 'good software' can be used for harm. For instance, software that allows a person to access a remote computer may be used to hack into someone's computer (i.e., access a remote computer without proper authorization).

 

To combat the various malware called a Virus, there is Anti-Virus software.

 

To prevent the various Hackers from accessing your computer, there is Firewall software.

 

To combat the various malware called Spyware, there is Anti-Spyware.

 

In the days before Bill Gates' reign with Windows, most all software was freely traded among geeks. Today, there are many various software available without charge (aka, free). These are broken into two types: Freeware and Shareware.

 

Freeware is 'Free' to the user on an unlimited basis. Shareware is free to the user on a limited basis. Usually, shareware is a type of demo version, or other downgraded version, of a more powerful software available for purchase. Shareware may have time usage limitations.

 

Some resources for Freeware and Shareware:  www.download.com, www.majorgeeks.com, www.tomcoyote.com, www.subratam.org.

 

Discussing Anti-Virus and Firewalls:

 

Anti-Virus and Firewalls perform entirely separate tasks, kind of like a washer and a dryer perform completely separate tasks for cleaning clothes. You may can do w/out the dryer (Firewall), but you don't want to be w/out the washer (Anti-Virus).

 

Some software combine Anti-Virus with a Firewall. For instance, in the beginnings of PC-Cillin (www.trendmicro.com, this product was only an Anti-Virus. Today, they've upgraded the software and added to it, so now it also performs as Firewall, too.

 

RE: Anti-Virus

When the internet began to seriously grow in public popularity, some thrill-seeking geeks responded by sending small software programs to unguarded internet users. These programs were commonly imbedded in a file that was attached to an email or imbedded in the hyperlink in a website. The programs would do an assortment of duties, and were written most often in a type of self-replicating manner. Some viruses were designed to attack the operating system of a computer, some were designed to attack the data stored in a computer, etc. When an internet user either downloaded a virus laden file attached to an email, or they clicked on a certain virus-laden hyperlink on a website, the virus downloaded itself into the users computer automatically and began its work in the new computer.

 

Today, Virus programs are much more sophisticated. Many self-execute (begin) just upon your opening an email or clicking to enter a website. But they still target your operating systems or data. Anti-virus programs cannot possibly work against every virus because the virus possibilities are fairly endless. So the makers of Anti-Virus software target the most likely suspects, given your location and access to the internet. Its a gamble on what viruses you may or may not come in contact with. Different Anti-Virus software pretty much cover the same known viruses, with certain software covering a few extras. In my experience, PC-Cillin casts a much broader net than Norton or MacAfee.

 

Certain Anti-Virus software has evolved into taking over control of the operating system. The goal of this is to help prevent serious effects in the case of a virus attack. However, these programs often royally screw up the operating system. Norton and MacAfee are world famous for screwing up operating systems. PC-Cillin isn't that evolved yet, and doesn't try to rule the operating system.

 

The problem is that new viruses are uploaded into the internet everyday. So these evil thrill-seekers create a thriving market for updated Anti-Virus Software. To be well covered, a computer that accesses the internet should have an Anti-Virus software installed, which is then updated regularly (at least once per week, preferably more).

 

An Anti-Virus is designed to automatically recognize and neuter/spay a virus. Depending on software settings that a user controls, it will quarantine or delete the files. Most Anti-Viruses are designed to start-up as soon as you turn on your computer. Some must be manually started by the computer's user.

 

PC-Cillin (TrendMicro) offers internet users the opportunity to see if their computer is infected with a virus - for free. That's the House-Call thing that's on their website. Its a free scan of your computer, and it doesn't leave anything undesireable on your computer when its done (no spyware).

 

RE: Firewalls

Software has become fairly sophisticated to allow people to link up computers via the internet and by phone lines, etc. Evil geeks use this technology to gain access to unsuspecting computer users who are either on a phone-line network OR on the internet. These are 'hackers', who 'hack into' other people's computers. Today, 'hackers' is a term used very loosely to describe people who gain unauthorized use of another computer AND for people who create and use viruses to infect another computer.

 

The opportunity for 'hacking' gained new proportions when users began such internet connections as DSL and Cable (Broadband). Typically, these computers access the internet during the computer's Start-Up procedures. And the computer is online the whole time its turned on. And the computer's user doesn't really have a way to watch what comes and goes. Hackers love DSL and Cable, because they're easier to 'see' online (because they're online for so very long) than someone who uses a Dial-Up modem (and is online only sporadically).

 

Hackers often use files known as Spyware to gain access to another computer. These files download exactly like a virus: via opening an infected email, downloading an infected email file or accessing an infected website or clicking on an infected hyperlink. An Anti-Virus will not block many of these files because they're not Viruses, per se. So it may allow them through.

 

A Firewall is a Gate-keeper to a computer. It watches what comes and goes, and the computer's user must define a series of permissions for data to travel In and Out. Like Anti-Virus software, some Firewall software have developed into taking over the operating system (Norton, MacAfee, etc). And they have the same resulting problems/conflicts with Windows. PC-Cillin is one of the Firewall software that doesn't commandeer the operating system. The problem with a Firewall and an Anti-Virus is that once a hacker's file gets past these two, for whatever reason, its free to operate at will and is almost never detectable by the user - except maybe to slow down your operating system because of the amount of work its doing by spying on your computer and then reporting that info back to the hacker. This is the way MOST identity theft happens on the internet (credit cards and bank accounts stored on your PC - like in Quicken or Quick Books, etc).

 

I am convinced that people who use DSL or Cable MUST have a Firewall in today's internet use. And I am convinced that its still a really great idea for dial-up modem users to have a Firewall as well.

 

RE: Trojans

A Trojan is simply a catch-all term for a file or hyperlink that appears acceptable (normal) to a computer, but is actually attached to a virus or a spy-file. And like virus geeks, hackers are famous for using Trojans to get a spy-file into a computer. Today, spy-files are incredibly common for marketing. A type of Spy-file is a 'cookie' that a website sends to your computer after you access the website. The 'cookie' is stored in a temp folder in your computer. When you go online, the 'cookie' wakes up and reports in with the website it came from. A 'cookie' is a typical Trojan file.

 

RE: Spy-ware

Spyware comes in many flavors, some acceptable and some unacceptable. Many popular sites, like Yahoo, require you accept their spyware in order to use their services.

 

One of the worst aspects of spyware is that you, the user, are usually clueless to any activity the spyware is doing with regards to your computer on behalf of its maker.  Spyware can report things like: all the webpages you visit, how long you visit each one, how long you're signed online, what your passwords are, what other software programs are on your computer, the data in other programs on your computer, your computer's Internet Service Provider (with your user name and password), and much, much more.

 

So you can see how potentially dangerous spyware can be to you.

 

There are two types of helps available in managing spyware. There are spyware 'preventers' and spyware 'clean-ups'.

 

Freeware versions of anti-spyware guards are: Spyware Guard, Spyware Blaster (see: www.majorgeeks.com). These need to be manually updated and offer a limited, but decent effectiveness against spyware.

 

My favorite anti-spyware utility is available only for purchase: Spyware Doctor (www.pctools.com),

 

Basically, these anti-spyware programs throw a list of 'known bad spyware' into your computer's protection system, so your computer won't allow that spyware to entry into your computer.

 

If you need to allow some versions of spyware, like for Yahoo.com, you have to manually go into Control Panel (or Internet Explorer-Tools), Internet Options, Privacy, and edit Sites. You'll see the list there and you can Allow (give permissions) to whatever spyware that's listed that you want to accept into your computer.

 

Spybot and Ad Aware (see www.majorgeeks.com) are probably the most currently popular Spyware clean up utilities. I run these programs and a 'cookie cleaner' program called Clean-Up several times per week to catch anything that my other anti-spyware programs may have missed.

 

If you have ANY problems with spyware, viruses, hijacked browser, hacker issues, etc., there is 24/7 help available for you FOR FREE.

 

Go to www.tomcoyote.com. You can go to a Chat room there hosted by a qualified geek where other geeks gather to chat (and non-geeks flock to problem-solve). Also, there's a forum to help you resolve your malware headaches, too. Remember - this is a fully volunteer website - no one makes a profit off of it. This site, like the good geeks prior to Bill Gate's Windows, offer to share their geek help and support for Free. So make a donation if they really helped you - it will help cover costs associated with keeping the website going.

 

Hope this helps you understand more about the topics. You're welcome to ask me anything about what I've written here if you don't understand.

 

Good Luck!

Esther Wilson