Types and Varieties of Viruses found on computers today

There are different types of viruses that can infect your computer in different ways. We will explain the types and the different ways that they operate.

Email Hoaxes

These are emails that provide misleading security information or contain virus laden attachments. Most of these mails provide text that advises you to forward the message to others or visit a site for you security. Advice that, if followed will make you look foolish. Some of these hoaxes will contain attachments or link to sites that actually infect your system though.

Macro Viruses

These are viruses written in a scripting or "macro" language that can be hidden in documents or files which contain data. Usually these viruses are written in Visual Basic and leverage the Microsoft Office or Outlook Express applications. Any programming interface that provides application like functionality can be used to create Macro viruses.

Malware

This is a generic term used to describe Malicious software or software that harms you computer or reveals your personal information. This term can be applied to pretty much any virus or spyware program.

Trojans

This term refers to software which once installed and run on your computer performs malicious tasks or replicates. Usually this software is either hidden in legitamite software that you install or is installed by legitamite software on your computer without your permission. Either way this software is a virus hidden in legitamite software.

Worms

Worm is a general term that refer to viruses spread via computer networks. They may be installed by spreading infected files on a networked disk drives that are mapped over a local area network. They also are spread via network exploits that are inherent security flaws in your programs or operating system which allows code to executed and your system to be exploited and infected.

File Viruses

These are viruses that attach themselves to files and infect your system once that file is opened or executed. They are offen attached to legitamite programs and files. They can also be attached to files sent via email or networks. Once opened or executed these viruses start replicating themselves and attaching themselves to other files.

Anti-heuristic Virus

These types of viruses try to mask their behaviour and presence from heuristic detection programs. They use a number techniques including code obfuscation and behaviour masking techniques to fool those anti-virus programs that consider heuristics when scanning your system for viruses.

Denial of Service(DOS)

These are attacks that reduce the level of service that a "legitamite" user of a service or site receives. They overwhelm a site or service with requests that are fake or spurious in nature, edging out those that are making legitimate requests. Viruses can contain programs that will perform these types of attacks on networks or websites.

Spyware

These programs are designed to gather information on you. They are often spread through viral means or websites and some types are capable of doing damage to your system or spreading themselves futher.