| Security Threat Descriptions: Page 1 |
Adware are programs that secretly gather personal information through the Internet and relay it back to another computer, generally
for advertising purposes. This is often accomplished by tracking information related to Internet browser usage or habits. Adware can
be downloaded from Web sites (typically in shareware or freeware), email messages, and instant messengers. A user may
unknowingly trigger adware by accepting an End User License Agreement from a software program linked to the adware.
Bot is actually short for robot. Bots are one of the most sophisticated types of crimeware facing the Internet today. Bots are similar to
worms and Trojans, but earn their unique name by performing a wide variety of automated tasks on behalf of their master (the
cybercriminals) who are often safely located somewhere far across the Internet. Tasks that bots can perform run the gamut from
sending spam to blasting Web sites off the Internet as part of a coordinated “denial-of-service” attack. Since a bot infected computer
does the bidding of its master, many people refer to these victim machines as zombies. Bots sneak onto a persons computer in many
ways. Bots oftentimes spread themselves across the Internet by searching for vulnerable, unprotected computers to infect. When
they find an exposed computer, they quickly infect the machine and then report back to their master. Their goal is then to stay
hidden until they are awakened by their master to perform a task. Bots are so quiet that sometimes the victims first learn of them
when their Internet Service Provider tells them that their computer has been spamming other Internet users. Sometimes a bot will
even clean up the infected machine to make sure it does not get bumped off of the victims computer by another cybercriminals bot.
Other ways in which a bot infects a machine include being downloaded by a Trojan, installed by a malicious Web site or being
emailed directly to a person from an already infected machine. Bots do not work alone, but are part of a network of infected
machines called a botnet. Botnets are created by attackers repeatedly infecting victim computers using one or several of the
techniques mentioned above. Each one of the zombie machines is controlled by a master computer called the command and control
server. From the command and control server, the cybercriminals manage their botnets and instructs the army of zombie computers
to work on their behalf. A botnet is typically composed of large number of victim machines that stretch across the globe, from the Far
East to the United States. Some botnets might have a few hundred or a couple thousand computers, but others have tens and even
hundreds of thousands of zombies at their disposal.
Dialers are programs that use a system, without your permission or knowledge, to dial out through the Internet to a 900 number or
FTP site, typically to accrue charges.
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for advertising purposes. This is often accomplished by tracking information related to Internet browser usage or habits. Adware can
be downloaded from Web sites (typically in shareware or freeware), email messages, and instant messengers. A user may
unknowingly trigger adware by accepting an End User License Agreement from a software program linked to the adware.
Bot is actually short for robot. Bots are one of the most sophisticated types of crimeware facing the Internet today. Bots are similar to
worms and Trojans, but earn their unique name by performing a wide variety of automated tasks on behalf of their master (the
cybercriminals) who are often safely located somewhere far across the Internet. Tasks that bots can perform run the gamut from
sending spam to blasting Web sites off the Internet as part of a coordinated “denial-of-service” attack. Since a bot infected computer
does the bidding of its master, many people refer to these victim machines as zombies. Bots sneak onto a persons computer in many
ways. Bots oftentimes spread themselves across the Internet by searching for vulnerable, unprotected computers to infect. When
they find an exposed computer, they quickly infect the machine and then report back to their master. Their goal is then to stay
hidden until they are awakened by their master to perform a task. Bots are so quiet that sometimes the victims first learn of them
when their Internet Service Provider tells them that their computer has been spamming other Internet users. Sometimes a bot will
even clean up the infected machine to make sure it does not get bumped off of the victims computer by another cybercriminals bot.
Other ways in which a bot infects a machine include being downloaded by a Trojan, installed by a malicious Web site or being
emailed directly to a person from an already infected machine. Bots do not work alone, but are part of a network of infected
machines called a botnet. Botnets are created by attackers repeatedly infecting victim computers using one or several of the
techniques mentioned above. Each one of the zombie machines is controlled by a master computer called the command and control
server. From the command and control server, the cybercriminals manage their botnets and instructs the army of zombie computers
to work on their behalf. A botnet is typically composed of large number of victim machines that stretch across the globe, from the Far
East to the United States. Some botnets might have a few hundred or a couple thousand computers, but others have tens and even
hundreds of thousands of zombies at their disposal.
Dialers are programs that use a system, without your permission or knowledge, to dial out through the Internet to a 900 number or
FTP site, typically to accrue charges.
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