Appendix B. Computer Threats and Neutralization Methods

With the development of computer technologies and network solutions malicious programs (malware) of different kinds, meant to strafe users, become more and more widespread. Their development began together with computer science and facilities of protection against them progressed alongside. Nevertheless, there is still no common classification for all possible threats due to their unpredictable development character and constant improvement of applicable technologies.

Malicious programs can be distributed through the Internet, local area networks, email and portable data mediums. Some of them rely on the user’s carelessness and lack of experience and can be run in completely automatic mode. Others are tools controlled by a computer cracker and they can harm even the most secure systems.

This chapter describes all of the most common and widespread types of malware, against which products of Doctor Web are aimed.