The Badness of Malware
One of the most dreaded topics in software news these days is the fear of malware, especially during the process of a download, including anything from music to vmware tools download.
Malware is the nickname for “malicious software,” which creeps its way into a computer system without the system owner’s knowledge or consent. Malware takes many forms, from devastating to irritating. Malware may contain computer viruses, as well as spyware or crimeware, and is usually masquerading as typical, genuine software. Its point of entry is often through the internet, and can gain access to a computer system even if the system has required malware protection.
Although the earliest forms of malware were considered forms of hijinx (the result of young computer hackers), today’s malware can actually take down businesses, economies and governments, and wipe out individuals’ savings.
The epidemic has grown to the point that malware protection is the number-one concern of most corporations and governments when it comes to their computer platforms. Anti-malware software can detect and isolate malware bugs. It works very much in the same way as anti-virus protection, sniffing out elements that may contain malware and warning the user.
Malware is often confused with the term “computer virus,” which is essentially a computer program that can duplicate itself and get into the DNA of a host computer. True to its virus nature, it can spread from one computer to another. This often happens when the virus infects a network sharing system. Like the most dangerous viruses, it initially does nothing to alarm the computer user and often sneaks into a computer system unnoticed. Most often, viruses attach themselves to legitimate software programs, transferring code and writing to memory. Often this starts out innocently enough; with the user thinking that the attachment is from a friend.
In contrast, less threatening than malware is grayware, which is not as destructive. Although they may not blaze a path of terror, they can still put a crimp in a user’s computer system. This could include unwanted pop-up windows or tracking the user’s web browsing.
The best advice still remains: do not open up anything that seems suspicious or unfamiliar. Be reluctant and careful to open any attachments that are delivered with your email. Investigate programs that evaluate attachments as they download.
Unfortunately, the future of malware (and grayware) looks promising. New forms of the epidemic will grow and mutate as protection programs struggle to keep up. Malware can come from anywhere, anyone and at any given time.