Type of Viruses
- Macro Viruses : A macro language is the computer programming built into a larger programs. Macro infect documents or document templates.
email attachment in a word documents. When open, the virus code executed and the first 50
entries in the victim email address book get the same email.
What is the affect of the macro viruse?
-Turning off security programs like antivirus application
-Ramdom beeping
-Sending rude or cryptic messages
-Modify the Windows Registry
-Destroy Data
-Annoyance (wasted time)
How to defend against Macro Viruses?
One way to defend against Macro Viruses is to turn off the capability to open them by default
and have a document warn you if a macro is present and give you the option to turn it on.
When you open a file whether it is a word document or access document, you will get a message saying "Security Warning Macro have been disable" and an Option button. Click on that option button and select "Enable this content" radio button to allow macro to execute.
NOTE: Remember only allow the Macro to execute only if it is from a legitimate source.
- Memory-Resident Viruses: Virus on the RAM. The virus goes away when the computer is turn off as turning the computer off whip everything in memory. Unless, the virus infect a system, then the virus activate every time the computer turn on.
What affect does Memory-Resident Viruses have?
-Corrupt files and programs
-Slow computer down by stealing system resources
-Damage data
-Damage system files
-Stop computer from running correctly
- File Infector Viruses: Attach to a file making the file slightly bigger and execute when the file is run.
What affect does the File Infector Viruses have?
-Damage program
-Damage data files
- Boot Sector Viruses: Affects the boot sector of a floppy or hard disk. You can get the boot sector virus from floppy disk. As the result, your hard drive become infected as well. Once infected, the virus swaps itself for the program that boots the computer and spread the viruses.
What affect does the Boot Sector Viruses have?
-Infect any disk that come in contact
-Can render a computer unbootable
- Multi-Partite Viruses: Find several vulnerabilities within the computer and attack it including files, programs, disk drives, and macros. An example of a multi-partite viruses is the Tequilla which attacks the master boot record and furthermore try to infect program files with the .EXE extension. One characteristic of the viruses is that the virus are good at hiding.
What affect does the Multi-Partite Viruses have?
-Making computer unbootable
-Files unusable
- Worms: Network-Savy Viruses: A virus that move from one computer to the next across the network. Worms can email themselves to email address found on the infected computer. An example of a worm are the Sasser and Blaster worm. In 2004, the Sasser worm infected hundred of thousand Windows XP and Windows 2000. In 2005, the Blaster worm infected Windows XP, Windows NT, Windows 2000, and Windows Server 2003 causing denial of service of Microsoft Windows Update server.
What affect does the Worm have?
-Network congestion
-Clog the Internet
-Freeze the computer
-Reboot computer repeatedly
- Trojan Horses: A virus that mascaraed to be a legitimate programs or applications.
What affect does the Trojan Horse have?
-Deploy viruses
-Ransack a computer
-Deploy bots
-Create backdoor into the computer