Spyware is classified as a program which is downloaded usually along with another program, that actually installs software which monitors and collects information for marketing research. Malicious spyware can be written and dispatch to computers to record information such as usernames, credit card numbers, passwords, etc. The program then sends all the information it collects back to the author.

Most spyware is not meant to be malicious, its usually used to gather marketing information, but some spyware is indeed created for purposes such as identity theft.

A great FREE tool that can be used to “Search and destroy” spyware is Spybot Search & Destroy.

A computer virus is a destructive program or application designed to replicate and spread throughout the computer on its on. Computer viruses can be contracted through opening e-mail attachments containing viruses, downloading infected programs from the internet (usually free programs), or from removable storage devices such as floppies, usb drives, etc. Make sure to only download stuff from reliable sources you trust. There are a few different types of viruses…

• Trojan Horses – these viruses pose as legitimate programs but are far from such. These viruses are usually designed to destroy data and can cause damage to hard disks. In modern terms Trojan Horses are not classified as viruses because they do not replicate or attach to other files, they work alone. They seem to be and work as the described application but they contain malicious code that gathers and records information by monitoring network behaviors.
• Computer Worms – these viruses are malicious programs the destroy the local computer by replicating until the disk space, memory, and other system resources have been consumed. These viruses are usually contracted through e-mail attachments the contain the virus.

• File Infectors – these are viruses that add their code to executable files such as word processor programs, spreadsheet apps, etc. After executing the file which contains the virus it then spreads to other executable programs causing havoc in the system.

• There are many more types but those are the main ones.

Some common symptoms of a computer who’s been compromised by malicious program(s) are as follows…

· System operations slows down greatly

· Hard Disk seems to be full even after files have been deleted

· The computer will not boot and files (such as the mbr) are corrupted

· The system will not boot to the HDD (Hard Disk Drive)

· File sizes change which you didn’t initiate

· Systems crashes

And many more…

Malicious programs are basically self explanatory… “Malicious Programs”. There are programs designed to deliver malicious behavior to your computer. Malicious programs can do anything from annoy you with ridiculous pop-up ads caused by adware to erase your entire hard drive and make you computer unusable. These programs are classified as the following…

• Viruses
• Trojan Horses (Also called Trojans)
• Worms
• Adware
• Spyware
• Monitoring or Hacking Tools