Anti - Virus
What is Malware?
Malware – short for malicious software – refers to any malicious or unexpected program or code such as Viruses, Trojans, and Worms. As for the man on the street, malware are normally refers to Viruses.
What is a Virus ?
A computer virus is a program – a piece of executable code – that has the unique ability to replicate, however occupy a majority of all known malware to date. Like biological viruses, computer viruses can spread quickly and are often difficult to eradicate. They can attach themselves to just about any type of files and are spread as files are copied and sent from individual to individual.
In addition to replication, most computer viruses share another commonality: a routine that delivers the damage payload. While payloads may only display harmless messages or images, they can also destroy files, reformat your hard drive and even hardware damage.
Several years ago most viruses spread primarily via floppy disk, but the Internet has introduced new virus distribution mechanisms. With email now used as an essential business communication tool, viruses are spreading faster than ever. Viruses attached to email messages can infect an entire enterprise in a matter of minutes, costing companies millions of dollars annually in lost productivity and clean-up expenses.
What is a Worm?
Computer Worms are malware that reside in the active memory of a computer and duplicate themselves. They may send copies of themselves to other computers, such as through email or Internet Relay Chat (IRC). These malware does not contain a damage routine but it can cause trouble by consuming storage space and memory and degrading the overall performance of your computers and network..
What is a Trojan?
Trojan Horses are malware that performs unexpected or unauthorized, often malicious, actions. The main difference between a Trojan and a Virus or Worm is the inability to replicate. Trojans cause damage, unexpected system behavior, and compromise the security of systems, but do not replicate.
A Trojan, coined from Greek mythology's Trojan horse, typically comes in good packaging but has some hidden malicious intent within its code. When a Trojan is executed users will likely experience unwanted system problems in operation, and sometimes loss of valuable data.
What is what ?
Virus, worm and Trojan are 3 totally different types of malware. However, to make matters worse, there are combination of codes. A Trojan with a replication code will allows it to infest other machine while at the same time, compromise the system sercurity.
A Worm code with a Virus code not only allows it to replicate at a deadly speed, but also with a deadly payload. There are even malware that consist all 3 types of codes.
What can you do to Protect against Malware?
There are many things you can do to protect against malware. Do not open files from anyone that you do not know. However, the best solution is to get a powerful antivirus product and keeping it up-to-date with the latest pattern files.
Gateway Anti-Virus Solution / Appliance
Internet Gateway protection is a key component of the overall anti-virus and policy solution. Scanning for viruses should be performed at the Internet Gateway where a virus can be stopped before entry into the network, minimizing any damage to business critical systems.
All these solution and appliances must scan e-mail traffic (SMTP), web traffic (HTTP), file transfers (FTP) and dial up mail traffic (POP3).
Local/Personal Anti-Virus Solution
Norton Anti-Virus
Mcafee Anti-Virus
Trend Micro Anti-Virus
Personal Anti-Virus Programs are installed on the local machine. It is easy to install and maintenance as updates can be configure to be automatically.
Norton Anti-Virus
Symantec's Norton AntiVirus combines the world's most trusted antivirus solution with additional features to protect and recover important files on PCs. This easy-to-use program removes viruses from email messages and instant-message attachments automatically, without interrupting your work. Automatic updates help defend your PC against new viruses.
http://www.norton.com
Mcafee Anti-Virus
McAfee VirusScan software stop viruses and keep your PC safe when you’re surfing the Internet with no worry about viruses. VirusScan software destroys threats at all entry points to your PC including email, the Internet, and even synchronization with your PDA. Superior and comprehensive anti-virus protection Detects viruses, Trojans, worms, malicious ActiveX controls and Java applets.
http://www.mcafee.com Trend Micro Anti-Virus
Combines advanced virus detection and cleaning with an integrated firewall to safeguard your system from malicious code and hackers threats in email and instant messaging, and while surfing the Internet. Features like Wi-Fi protection helps secure your computer when connecting to a wireless LAN network, and Outbreak Alert gives you early warning about new viruses.
http://www.trendmicro.com
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