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Trojans, Worms, Rootkits; are they misunderstood?

For most home users the terminology used in the IT world, keeps them in some ways in the dark. For people who try to stay with every new buzz word that comes along, it’s important to try and grasp the concepts of what is happening rather than pondering on each new topic or word.

For starters Trojans, Worms and Rootkits are technically not viruses, but are a means for viruses and Spyware to attack or manipulate your computer. What is the difference between a virus and spyware? A virus is out to do harm to your to your machine for no reason than the harm itself. Spyware is out for commercial gain and the spyware would be doing its job by keeping your machine running perfectly.

People misconceive some of the main terminology used and this in fact goes for sections of the IT community. A Trojan is not a virus but is a means for a virus or spyware to enter your machine. If somebody puts a virus on your memory (USB) stick in work, school, internet café etc, then the USB stick becomes the Trojan. You then take this home and put it into your home computer and the virus enters your machine. It’s what is in the Trojan that’s the problem.

Worms are technically not viruses but are a technology used by operating systems that can be exploited. Worms mainly use a remote procedural technology that allows software on different machines to communicate with each other. If your computer is susceptible to this remote access, then a Worm will make use of the remote access to your machine. The worm’s main goal is to identify your machine by using some sort of IP scanning technology to see that you are susceptible. The exploit code then follows the worm. So the worm is not really the problem but what follows it. Now there are worms that have payloads attached, so as to manipulate as soon as the worm identifies a system.

Rootkits are a real nasty piece of work. These can make viruses and spyware unidentifiable to even the best Anti Virus out there. But again these are a manipulation of your operating system so that the real spyware or viruses can work on your machine unhindered. The bottom line is to understand the basic concepts, of how your computer is attacked and then you may not need to scrutinize or worry so much, everytime a new virus hits the headlines.

For more on this and other subjects go to:
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Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/security-articles/trojans-worms-rootkits-are-they-misunderstood-940719.html

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