Remote PC Fixers | Computer and Web Definitions

Computer and Web Terminology

What is a Virus?

A computer virus attaches itself to a program or file enabling it to spread from one computer to another, leaving infections as it travels. Like a human virus, a computer virus can range in severity: some may cause only mildly annoying effects while others can damage your hardware, software or files.

Almost all viruses are attached to an executable file, which means the virus may exist on your computer but it actually cannot infect your computer unless you run or open the malicious program. It is important to note that a virus cannot be spread without a human action, (such as running an infected program) to keep it going.

People continue the spread of a computer virus, mostly unknowingly, by sharing infecting files or sending e-mails with viruses as attachments in the e-mail.

What is a Computer Worm?

A worm is similar to a virus by design and is considered to be a sub-class of a virus. Worms spread from computer to computer, but unlike a virus, it has the capability to travel without any human action. A worm takes advantage of file or information transport features on your system, which is what allows it to travel unaided.

The biggest danger with a worm is its capability to replicate itself on your system, so rather than your computer sending out a single worm, it could send out hundreds or thousands of copies of itself, creating a huge devastating effect. One example would be for a worm to send a copy of itself to everyone listed in your e-mail address book. Then, the worm replicates and sends itself out to everyone listed in each of the receiver's address book, and the manifest continues on down the line.

Due to the copying nature of a worm and its capability to travel across networks the end result in most cases is that the worm consumes too much system memory (or network bandwidth), causing Web servers, network servers and individual computers to stop responding. In recent worm attacks such as the much-talked-about Blaster Worm, the worm has been designed to tunnel into your system and allow malicious users to control your computer remotely.

What Is a Trojan horse?

A Trojan Horse is full of as much trickery as the mythological Trojan Horse it was named after. The Trojan Horse, at first glance will appear to be useful software but will actually do damage once installed or run on your computer. Those on the receiving end of a Trojan Horse are usually tricked into opening them because they appear to be receiving legitimate software or files from a legitimate source. When a Trojan is activated on your computer, the results can vary. Some Trojans are designed to be more annoying than malicious (like changing your desktop, adding silly active desktop icons) or they can cause serious damage by deleting files and destroying information on your system. Trojans are also known to create a backdoor on your computer that gives malicious users access to your system, possibly allowing confidential or personal information to be compromised. Unlike viruses and worms, Trojans do not reproduce by infecting other files nor do they self-replicate.

What is Malware?

Short for malicious software, software designed specifically to damage or disrupt a system, such as a virus or a Trojan horse.

What is a Keylogger?

A keylogger is a type of surveillance software (considered to be either software or spyware) that has the capability to record every keystroke you make to a log file, usually encrypted. A keylogger recorder can record instant messages, e-mail, and any information you type at any time using your keyboard. The log file created by the keylogger can then be sent to a specified receiver. Some keylogger programs will also record any e-mail addresses you use and Web site URLs you visit.

Keyloggers, as a surveillance tool, are often used by employers to ensure employees use work computers for business purposes only. Unfortunately, keyloggers can also be embedded in spyware allowing your information to be transmitted to an unknown third party.

What is Spyware?

Spyware is considered a malicious program and is similar to a Trojan Horse in that users unwittingly install the product when they install something else. A common way to become a victim of spyware is to download certain peer-to-peer file swapping products that are available today.

Spyware works like adware but is usually a separate program that is installed unknowingly when you install another freeware type program or application. Once installed, the spyware monitors user activity on the Internet and transmits that information in the background to someone else. Spyware can also gather information about e-mail addresses and even passwords and credit card numbers.

Because spyware exists as independent executable programs, they have the capability to monitor your keystrokes, scan files on the hard drive, snoop other applications, such as chat programs or word processors, install other spyware programs, read cookies, change the default home page on the Web browser, while consistently relaying this information back to the spyware author who will either use it for advertising and marketing purposes or sell the information to another party.

Licensing agreements that accompany software downloads sometimes warn the user that a spyware program will be installed along with the requested software, but the licensing agreements are not always be read completely by users because the notice of a spyware installation is often couched in obtuse, hard-to-read legal disclaimers.

What are Spyware Pop-ups?

Spyware is considered a malicious program and is similar to a Trojan Horse in that you unwittingly install the product when you install something else. A common way to become a victim of spyware is to download certain peer-to-peer file-swapping products as well as some freeware like games or other applications. There are even malicious people who actually hide spyware in "anti-spyware" programs. Here people install the program, thinking it will remove existing spyware from their compute, but, in fact, it actually installs spyware.

In addition to privacy issues (e.g., some spyware can transmit every bit of information you enter on the Web back to a third party) it could also monitor your surfing habits, install unwanted toolbars and change your browser settings and homepage. Some spyware can flood your system with so many pop-ups that it uses large portions of hard drive space and system resources to the point of notably slowing it down, or worse yet, rendering your system unstable or unusable.

Keeping your system free of spyware pop-ups requires ongoing PC maintenance. It's far easier to protect your system on a daily basis than it is to recover your system if it is already infected with pop-ups. Here are six tips to help you keep your computer pop-up free;

Be sure you keep your operating system up-to-date and download recommended patches.

If you encounter unexpected windows and pop-ups while surfing the Web, quit the pop-up or tabbed browser window and do not click any hyperlinks from within it.

Don't download freeware or shareware unless it is coming from a trusted source. Be especially suspicious of free entertainment software like games or music and video-sharing freeware. Web accelerators, free browser toolbars, spam blockers, pop-up blockers and similar seemingly useful applications should be avoided when they are not being downloaded from a well-known company's Web site.

Adult entertainment Web sites and other sites offering free (illegally pirated) versions of software are usually ripe with spyware and browser pop-ups. Avoid these sites completely.

Ensure you keep an anti-virus program on your system and that it is frequently updated and is used to scan all files you download.

Install a reputable anti-spyware program and ensure it is kept updated

What is Adware?

What is Adware? Adware is considered a legitimate alternative offered to consumers who do not wish to pay for software. Programs, games or utilities can be designed and distributed as freeware. Sometimes freeware blocks features and functions of the software until you pay to register it. Today we have a growing number of software developers who offer their goods as "sponsored" freeware until you pay to register. Generally most or all features of the freeware are enabled but you will be viewing sponsored advertisements while the software is being used. The advertisements usually run in a small section of the software interface or as a pop-up ad box on your desktop. When you stop running the software, the ads should disappear. This allows consumers to try the software before they buy and you always have the option of disabling the ads by purchasing a registration key.

In many cases, Adware is a legitimate revenue source for companies who offer their software free to users. A perfect example of this would be the popular e-mail program, Eudora. You can choose to purchase Eudora or run the software in sponsored mode. In sponsored mode Eudora will display an ad window in the program and up to three sponsored toolbar links. Eudora adware is not malicious; it reportedly doesn't track your habits or provide information about you to a third party. This type of adware is simply serving up random paid ads within the program. When you quit the program the ads will stop running on your system.

What is a Registry?

The Windows Registry is a database which stores settings and options for Microsoft Windows operating systems. It contains information and settings for all the hardware, operating system software, most non-operating system software, and per-user settings. The registry also provides a window into the operation of the kernel, exposing runtime information such as performance counters and currently active hardware.

What is a Firewall?

A system designed to prevent unauthorized access to or from a private network. Firewalls can be implemented in both hardware and software, or a combination of both. Firewalls are frequently used to prevent unauthorized Internet users from accessing private networks connected to the Internet, especially intranets. All messages entering or leaving the intranet pass through the firewall, which examines each message and blocks those that do not meet the specified security criteria.

What is The "Blue Screen"?

When you start Windows XP, your computer may briefly display the blue startup screen and then continuously restart. A fatal system error (STOP error) causes the computer to stop.

What is a Hard Drive?

The mechanism that reads and writes data on a hard disk. Hard disk drives (HDDs) for PCs generally have seek times of about 12 milliseconds or less. Many disk drives improve their performance through a technique called caching. There are several interface standards for passing data between a hard disk and a computer. The most common are IDE, SATA, and SCSI manufactured by Western Digital, Seagate, Maxtor, IBM, and Fujitsu.

What is a Motherboard?

The main circuit board of a microcomputer. The motherboard contains the connectors for attaching additional boards. Typically, the motherboard contains the CPU, BIOS, memory, mass storage interfaces, serial and parallel ports, expansion slots, and all the controllers required to control standard peripheral devices, such as the display screen, keyboard, and disk drive. Collectively, all these chips that reside on the motherboard are known as the motherboard's chipset. Some of the major manufacturers are Abit, Aopen, ASUS, Biostar, Dell, ECS, Foxconn, Gateway, Gigabyte, Hewlett Packard, HEC Compucase, HIPER, HP, IBM, Intel, Jetway, Lian Li, Linkworld, Logisys Computer, Micron, Micro Star, Mylex, NEC, and Supermicro.

What is a CPU?

The CPU is the brains of the computer. Sometimes referred to simply as the central processor, but more commonly called processor, the CPU is where most calculations take place. In terms of computing power, the CPU is the most important element of a computer system. Some of the major manufacturers are AMD, Intel, Transmeta, and VIA.

What is a Rootkit?

A rootkit is a type of malicious software that is activated each time your system boots up. Rootkits are difficult to detect because they are activated before your system's Operating System has completely booted up. A rootkit often allows the installation of hidden files, processes, hidden user accounts, and more in the systems OS. Rootkits are able to intercept data from terminals, network connections, and the keyboard.

*All definitions and terminology from Webopedia.com, Wikipedia.org, and Microsoft.com