Viruses, Worms, Spyware, Phishing

1
Viruses, Worms, Spyware, Phishing

• Explanation and Removal Tools
• By Adam Lamar

2
Overview

• Definitions
• Symptoms
• Prevention
• Removal Tools

3
What are Viruses?

• Self-replicating software that causes system
  problems
• May attach to another piece of software
• Runs when opened
• Affects the system in some way
• Pranks
• System damage or data loss
• Compromises system security

4
What are Worms?

• Self-contained software that infects computer and
  attempts to spread to other computers
• Usually spread over a network
• May not require human interaction
• Can spread very quickly
• Spreads by way of system vulnerability
• Un-patched machines are vulnerable

5
What is Spyware?

• Secretly gathers information about the user and
  sends to advertising agencies
• Privacy concerns
• May cause browser or network problems
• Not able to access certain sites
• Unwanted pop-ups

6
What is Phishing?

• An attempt to gather your personal information
  for malicious use
• We suspect an unauthorized transaction on your
  account.
• Please click the link below and confirm your
  identity
• Phisher then uses information to steal money,
  identity, etc.

7
Virus Worm Symptoms

• Strange behavior such as
• Computer is slow
• Hard disk is suddenly full
• Unable to run or install certain software like
  anti-virus or firewall
• A sudden increase in network traffic (network
  connection lights are constantly blinking)
• Documents have been deleted or computer will not
  start

8
Spyware Symptoms

• Unable to access certain web sites
• WebCT
• Web-based email
• Secure sites (HTTPS)
• Often get unwanted pop-ups, even when not using
  your web browser
• Network may suddenly not work at all

9
Phishing Symptoms

• You have provided personal information to a
  person or website claiming to be from a
  legitimate company
• Unauthorized charges on your credit card
• Loans or credit applied for in your name
• Identity stolen

10
Virus Prevention

• Viruses often spread when a user opens a
• File
• Email
• Instant Message
• Dont open anything from un-trusted and/or
  unexpected sources!
• Run anti-virus software
• Symantec Antivirus available at
  support.uidaho.edu
• Keep anti-virus definitions up-to-date

11
Virus Prevention

• Keep anti-virus definitions up-to-date

12
Worm Prevention

• Keep your systems patched
• Automatic updates on Windows
• Software Updates on OS X
• Run a software firewall
• Already included in most operating systems
• Verify it is turned on!
• Run up-to-date anti-virus software
• Dont connect computer directly to Internet
• Use a hardware firewall or router
• Run as a standard user instead of Administrator
• Limits possible damage

13
Worm Prevention

• Ensure firewall software is running

14
Spyware Prevention

• Often obtained through Drive-by Download when
  browsing the web
• Internet Explorer is primary target
• Use an alternate, more secure web browser in
  Windows
• Firefox
• Opera
• Use caution installing P2P or similar types of
  software as they often contain spyware
• Kazaa
• Bearshare
• LimeWire

15
Phishing Prevention

• Do not reply to any request for personal
  information
• Always type web addresses into your browser do
  not click on address in email or instant message
• Legitimate companies will normally not ask for
  personal information unless you contact them
  first

16
Removal

• Up-to-date anti-virus and a running firewall will
  catch many problems
• Scan computers running Windows often with
  Ad-Aware or Spybot Search Destroy
• Free removal tools often available for specific
  malware problems
• Microsofts Malicious Software Removal Tool
• Free online virus scanning
• See notes for links
• Education is the best prevention
• Read Bruce Schneiers Safe Personal Computing
  (see notes)