A malware definition is pretty straightforward.  Identifying malware and fixing it, is quite another ball game.  Malware is short for malicious software.  That begins to give you an idea, doesn’t it?

Malware is a file or program that intends to cause harm to your computer and includes, among other things, worms and viruses that wreak havoc on your computer, spyware that collects information from your computer on the sly and the elusive Trojan horses.

How do I know my Computer is Infected?

Recognizing malware requires more than just a basic understanding of a malware definition.  You need to have some knowledge about computers.  Many users fail to detect malware for several months or even years, all the time blaming the slow speed on the model they bought.  However, if you notice the things mentioned below, it could be very good indication that your computer has been infected by malware.

• First and foremost, the speed of the computer slows down for reasons that you can’t seem to explain
• Your computer seems to crash more often
• You’ve got pop-ups coming up too often for comfort
• You can see some tool bars in your browser and can’t seem to remember adding them
• Your web browser directs you to strange sites, where you’d rather not be
• You find your browser settings being changed again and again

Another threat spreading like this is the Downadup or Conficker computer worm that has shown up recently.  This virus creeps into systems and makes its own copies on other computers.  This implies that if any single computer is infected within a network of computers, the infection will spread across the whole network.

Different Kinds of Malware Threats

Malware threats fall into the following categories: viruses, worms, Trojan programs and other malware.

While both viruses and worms spread themselves from one computer to the other, there is one basic difference between them.  Viruses can be contracted only when users access files or objects on their computer that are infected, while worms do not require to be attached to programs on your computer.  They can easily penetrate machines that are remote and spread the infection with the help of email, file sharing, instant messages, etc.

Trojan malware don’t self-replicate.  These items remain dormant and benign until someone downloads them and they come to reside in your computer.

This category (other malware) consists of some malware tools and unwanted programs such as pornware that keeps directing you pornographic websites, adware that aids the popping up of unwanted advertisements and riskware that endangers the security of your entire system.