Anti-Virus or Anti-Virus Software, this type of software utility is designed to protect a stand alone computer or within a networked environment against computer virus vunribilities, if access to the Internet (world wide web) is in use.
Viruses are constantly being evolved by spurious types to attack, mimic and take advantage of flaws in operating systems with out adequate updated security patches and or a updated frequently used protection utility.
If and when a virus is detected the computer will prompt the user for a course of action to be taken, depending on the type of software utility installed / in use.
Common methods for virus's to be implemented:
- Downloaded shareware software.
- Pirated software.
- Via email attachments.
- Other modes of online communications, such as instant messaging software.
What a virus does:
- Affect specific software.
- Corrupt data.
- Overwrite data.
- Corrupt software
- Destroy / damage a harddrive and or other hardware.
- Spread like a human based virus exponentially
Some common types of known virus:
- Stealth : usually attaches itself to certain files, sometimes remains inactive for a certain time, then springs to life and rapidly corrupts all data.
- Memory: attaches itself to the memory then infects the computer.
- Non-Memory: spreads / attacks when certain programmes / utilities are ran.
- Polymorphic: once attached, adapt and modify their code, often contains more than one variant of a virus.
Firewalls:
Taken from the term and use of a firewall that sits between the dashboard and bulkhead of a motor vehicle. A firewall in a information technology environment is considered a first line of defence between the user and the internet.
Can either be a security software program or a hardware device that prevents unauthorised access to a stand alone computer, or a network, by blocking or restricting ports.
Types of firewall:
- Software based and most commonly used, also known as a personal firewall.
- Hardware based and usually specific to wide area networks, incorporated in a server or connected to a server.
- Router based, incorporated hardware firewall in a router and used in either local area networks or wide area networks.
Common defence protocols employed:
- Proxy Server: Intercepts all messages to and from a computer / network and often hides the exact network addresses.
- Packet Filter: Reads all packets of information ( binary code ) to and from a computer / network, quite often a preset protocol.
- Application Gateway: applies certain security protocols to types of software, for example when using a File Transfer Protocol when uploading specific information to web pages.
- Circuit Level Gateway: provides security in the Transfer Control Protocol between computers, for example when exchanging information between servers, browsing the internet etc.
Anti-Spyware:
Commonly referred to as either Adware, Malware, Spyware and or Trojans, the aforementioned are becoming an increasing threat online and quite often install unwanted programs / malicious software and hidden harvesters of both personal and factual use online etc.
Many computer users quite often do not realise when these programs have been secretly installed on their computer and or network, their internet browser and or the computer hijacked.
Common symptoms:
- Computer hangs up and or slows down.
- Default search engine or other internet settings changed.
- Default homepage is changed ( usually to a different page full of more spyware and or a adult themed type page ).
- Different and or new tools added to the browser tool bar, e.g. a unwanted search tool.
Web Beacons:
Web beacons sometimes also known as a web bug are mostly small transparent graphic interface format clear tags and or pixel tags, used in conjunction with cookies to track internet users from a specific site and the information sometimes passed along to third parties.
While not particularly harmful they can be used for nefarious purposes and infringe upon the privacy of individuals, altering the privacy settings with a internet browser will stop them from being attached for the most part.
