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To prevent a ‘Trojan Horse’ virus from entering and infecting a computer, it is advisable not to open
spams, e-mail attachments or files that may look attractive and luring but have been sent by unknown
senders on the Internet.
Spyware
Spywares are programs which infect and collect information of the computer without the owner’s
knowledge or consent. A spyware generally infects a computer system by getting transmitted through
internet, websites, webpages, e-mails or through network of computers. It intrudes into a computer and
quietly steals the data of the computer. In other words, it refers to a kind of software which can track the
activities of a computer system and report to the users. Keylogger is an example of a spyware.
To prevent the attacks of spyware:
l Use anti-spyware (software)
l Avoid exploring the error dialogs on internet
l Avoid using free deal offers on internet
l Be sure of the authenticity of a desired program before installing it in your computer
Spam
Spam refers to an unwanted and unsolicited message which is received in the inbox of a person’s e-mail
account or in newsgroups. The one who sends the spams is called a ‘Spammer’. Generally, spams are sent
with an intention to advertise products and services.
Symptoms and Effects of a Malware or Virus Infection
When virus infects human beings; it damages the body which is evident through certain symptoms. In
the similar manner, there are certain symptoms that hint that a computer has been infected by malware
or virus, like:
Slowdown: Fall in speed of processing of computer.
l
Pop-ups: Appearance of unexpected pop-ups on the system.
l
Crash: Frequent crashing of system or BSOD (Blue Screen of Death).
l
l Running Out of Storage Space: Occupying huge space of storage.
l Loss of File: Abrupt deletion of files of a computer system.
l Unusual activity of messages or programs: Automatic opening or closing of a program, abrupt
restarting of a computer and opening of strange or unknown windows during the process of booting.
l Unusual Network Activity: Unusual network activity such as excessive transfer of data even when
all the applications are closed.
Adware
An ‘adware’ or an ‘advertising supported software’ is an unwanted software that hides on the system
and appears in form of pop up advertisement on your screen. They usually get downloaded with the free
software. They are usually less harmful than the other types of malware but become very irritating when
they appear again and again on your screen, blocking your view and hampering the experience. Until and
unless installed without the user’s consent, they are considered to be legal.
Adware are created with a purpose of earning money. Every time they are installed, displayed on screen
or clicked, the company earns a particular amount of money.
To get rid of adware, try to uninstall all the unwanted programs from your machine and run an adware scan.
Cyber Safety 65

