Viruses

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Viruses

• Alan Barber
• CSC 201
• Prof. Meeker

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Definition

• A self-replicating piece of software that can
  partially or fully attach itself to files or
  applications, and can cause your computer to do
  something you don't want it to do.

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History of the Virus

• Elk Cloner (1982)
• Brain (1986)
• Morris (1988)
• Melissa (1999)
• Love Bug (2000)
• Code Red (2001)
• Storm Worm (2007)

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Why Are Viruses Written?

• Psychologically driven
• NASCAR effect
• Bragging Rights

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Most Common Types

• Viruses
• Email Viruses
• Worms
• Trojan Horses

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Email Viruses

• Spread via attachments
• Users click on them
• Emailed to contacts

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Worms

• Utilize holes in security of programs
• Affect the network
• Spread very quickly

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Trojan Horses

• Not a virus technically
• Pose as something else
• Dont spread as far

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Protection Against Viruses

• Turn on firewalls
• Install OS updates
• Switch to UNIX
• Avoid unknown programs
• Dont click on email attachments
• Use current antivirus software

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Antivirus Software

• A necessity
• Scans identifies data
• Some Top Brands
• BitDefender
• McAfee
• Kapersky
• Symantec

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Viruses Today

• On the rise
• More malicious
• Cooperating with hackers
• Security always an issue
• Get a Mac!
• Viruses on Macs

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Bibliography

• Brain, Marshall. How Computer Viruses Work.
  2007 How Stuff Works. 3 Dec. 2007
  .
• Computer Viruses description, prevention, and
  recovery. 11 Oct. 2007. Microsoft Help and
  Support. 3 Dec. 2007 /kb/129972.
• Dr. Mario. Fever Theme. Nintendo, 1990.
• Ducharme, Pierre. A crash during the 2005 Daytona
  500. 2005. Reuters. 3 Dec. 2007
  mages/nascarcrash.jpg.

• Trojan-horse.gif. Stanford University. 3 Dec.
  2007 ege/projects-01/distributed-computing/assets/image
  s/trojan-horse.gif.
• Twist, Jo. 23 Aug. 2003. Why people write
  computer viruses. BBC News. 3 Dec. 2007
  .
• Worst computer viruses of last 25 years. 31
  Aug. 2007. Associated Presss. 3 Dec. 2007
  .

• ILOVEYOU. Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia. 30
  Nov. 2007. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 3 Dec. 2007
  .
• Larkin, Erik. Chart - Top Antivirus Performers.
  23 April 2007. PC World. 3 Dec. 2007
  html.
• Schneier, Bruce. Gathering Storm Superworm
  Poses Gave Threat to PC Nets. 4 Nov. 2007. Wired
  News. 3 Dec. 2007 ecurity/commentary/securitymatters/2007/10/securit
  ymatters_1004.