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Line 1: − + − Regardless of how it got on your computer, you now have a problem. The malware may be slowing down your computer or annoying you by sending email to all your contacts. Worse, it may be deleting or copying sensitive information.+ + − + + + + + + + + + + +
malware cite; added info
'''Malicious software''' (or '''malware'''), often generically called viruses, is [[computer]] [[software]] which deliberately does something harmful to your computer. The best known kind is the ''virus'', which is designed to spread itself to other computers; that's probably how it got on your computer. Another way malware can get on your computer is to hitch a ride inside another (sometimes legitimate) software package: the ''trojan horse'' (or ''trojan''). Unlike the virus, trojans don't spread any further once they get on your computer.
'''Malicious software''' (or '''malware'''), often generically called viruses, is [[computer]] [[software]] which deliberately does something harmful to your computer.<ref>malware. Dictionary.com. [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/malware http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/malware], (accessed: July 13, 2011).</ref> Once downloaded, malware can be passed from one computer to another. Malware is usually downloaded to a computer by hiding inside rogue (and sometimes legitimate) software packages: the ''Trojan horse'' (or ''Trojan'').<ref>Definition: [http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/Trojan-horse Trojan horse], searchsecurity.techtarget.com, (Accessed July 13, 2011).</ref><ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,307602,00.html Apple Macintoshes Targeted by Porn-Based Computer Virus], [[Fox News|FOXNews.com]], November 02, 2007.</ref> While Mac malware is scarcer than [[Windows (operating system)|Windows]] malware, Macs can pass on files that contain malware to Windows users, and one line of defense is to use a Mac [[Anti-virus software|antivirus]] that detects and stops Windows viruses as well as Mac malware.
==Symptoms==
If a [[Windows (operating system)|Windows]] or [[Mac OS X]] [[operating system]] gets infected by malware, it could cause the loss of important files; business files, digital music and movies, and pictures could be wiped out by a single infection.<ref>''The Mac Security Blog''. [http://blog.intego.com/2008/12/04/do-you-need-an-antivirus-for-your-mac-definitely-yes/ Do You Need an Antivirus for Your Mac? Definitely, Yes.], blog.intego.com, December 4, 2008.</ref> The malware may slow down the computer or become annoying by sending [[email]] to all of the infected users contacts. Worse, it may delete or copy sensitive information on the infected computer or mobile device.
[[category:computers]][[category:software]]
===Infectious Mobile Devices===
[[Android]] devices and some versions of the [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] iOS mobile operating system are vulnerable to malicious code contained in PDF files.<ref>Amy Gahran. [http://articles.cnn.com/2011-07-11/tech/gahran.ios.malware_1_pdf-files-ios-iphone?_s=PM:TECH iPhone, iPad users: Watch out for malicious PDF files], ''[[CNN]]'', July 11, 2011.</ref><ref>''The Mac Security Blog''. [http://blog.intego.com/2011/07/07/iphone-pdf-vulnerability-creates-security-risks-allows-easy-jailbreaks/ iOS PDF Vulnerability Creates Security Risks, Allows Easy Jailbreaks], blog.intego.com, July 7, 2011.</ref> Security researchers at [[Intego]] noted that while there is currently no known malware for iOS, files that flow through mobile devices and into [[home]] and [[office]] computers by email or remote storage can contain malware and worms that are harmful to the Mac and Windows operating systems.<ref>Killian Bell. [http://www.cultofmac.com/integos-virusbarrier-for-ios-will-stop-your-iphone-from-being-a-typhoid-mary/104264 Intego’s VirusBarrier for iOS Will Stop Your iPhone From Being A Typhoid Mary], ''Cult of Mac'', July 12, 2011.</ref> For example, once infected, an [[iPhone]] would act as an [[asympotomatic carrier]], allowing [[criminal|cybercriminals]] to access confidential information, intercept phone conversations or take over other aspects of the infected device.
===Macro Virus===
One serious type of malware is macro viruses that affect [[Microsoft]] [[Microsoft Office|Word]] and [[Microsoft Excel|Excel]]. These viruses spread among Word and Excel applications and documents, and, unlike other types of malware, affect Macs and Windows alike.
==References==
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[[category:computers]]
[[category:software]]