| Malware, spyware and viruses are used | | | | such as an mp3, a photo, a video, or even text |
| interchangeably when discussing general computer | | | | within the body of the email containing an attached |
| infections. In the last few years, being able to | | | | file where one is enticed to open to view the internal |
| identify for the purpose of removal of a virus or | | | | contents. The result is a user will attempt to open |
| malware requires the correct removal program. | | | | the file, sees what seems to be a broken file (it |
| Additionally, malware comes in many and varied | | | | doesn't open) yet the user has in fact opened the |
| forms, although slightly different to one another, do | | | | Trojan and released the virus onto their computer. |
| the following, damage, corruption or interruption to | | | | Almost all types of infections also have the ability to |
| normal computer use. | | | | mask their activity so as to not be picked up by |
| Malicious software, the short name is malware and | | | | removal software, either commercial or free. They |
| spyware, software designed to spy or gain | | | | will even go so far to protect themselves by leaving |
| unauthorized access have many means to infect and | | | | registry keys to regenerate executable files, if the |
| cause various forms of damage on a personal | | | | executable file becomes deleted. They will also |
| computer. Adware, spyware, malware, root kits, key | | | | generate new files in temporary directories and many |
| loggers, web hijackers, bandwidth hogging, malicious | | | | other areas on a computer so they can recreate |
| cookies, are some of the new terms used what we | | | | themselves if removed especially after a computer |
| now term as malware. | | | | restart. In this instance, removal must be done |
| A virus usually infects a computer and will attempt to | | | | manually, through powering a computer and loading |
| corrupt or delete data and also attempt to replicate | | | | safe mode of windows, and individual deletion of the |
| and deliver copies to other computers, most often | | | | correct files and registry keys. |
| through sending copies of itself using an email | | | | There are many free and commercial anti-virus |
| program address book and sending an infected email | | | | programs, yet most are not very effective at |
| to all those listed in an email contacts list. | | | | removing malware, fortunately, there are available |
| A Trojan program, also considered a virus, will usually | | | | tools that are designed specifically for the removal of |
| masquerade its harmful effect inside an innocuous file, | | | | malware. |