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The Internet has become a critical tool in education and entertainment, as well as communications – business and personal. With the internet and the ability to share information comes great risk; exposure to malicious software that steals your information and damages your computer system. This malicious software (MALWARE for short) is categorized as Adware, Spyware, and Viruses.
E-mail as an Infection Route
“Forward this to everyone in your address book” is a common phrase in chain mail over the internet. Well – many malicious types of software will do this for you, without your knowledge or consent. Persons receiving a file from a friend or colleague may promptly open it without considering the circumstances. This is the intent from the programmer of these particular malicious softwares (often called worms); they will masquerade the dangerous attachment to be a funny video, pictures, or some other file from a friend or colleague.
Best Practice: Do not open an attachment or link from an e-mail that you were not expecting – even if you know the person that sent it.
Surfing the Web
Malicious websites take advantage of scripting features and security errors within common internet browsers and operating systems. Dialogue boxes may appear on your computer warning of detected conditions, intending to scare you, and suggesting you install their software to repair the issue. Other sites require you to install their “driver” to view the content, like videos or pictures.
In both these cases, by clicking OK or YES you are expressly allowing these sites to install their potentially malicious software on your computer, regardless of any protective software installed on your computer.
Best Practice: Do not install applications or drivers from web-sites that are not trusted.
Internet File Sharing
Ares, Bearshare, BitTorrent, Frostwire, Limewire, mIRC, and Morpheus are common internet-based file sharing applications. The applications themselves are not malicious software; however their functionality does provide a substantial path for intrusion.
Internet File Sharing allows files to be shared with other people around the world; be it documents, videos, music, applications, or viruses. The tools for sharing do not discriminate or understand the difference between a safe file and something malicious. Malware is frequently made available masquerading as your favorite song or program.
Best Practice: Do not use this type of internet file sharing.
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