Malware and how it affects the system and the Victim also how it get into a Victim machine - Essay Example

MALWARE A malicious software (in short Malware) is an illegitimate software that is designed andprogrammed by persons who want to gain access to other private computer systems, gather sensitive information and or disrupt the working of computer systems. Over the last years, malware has become a dominant feature within the computer systems and is not isolated to particular places but on the contrary, it is spread all over the globe (Reavis, 2012). Malicious software in general refer to a variety of software which are intrusive or even hostile and includes such software as rogue security software, spyware, worms, adware, dialers, Trojan, computer virus and key loggers among others which normally appear in the form of active contents, codes as well as scripts (Klaus, 2013).

However, it is worth noting that malwares are different from defective software in the regard that defective software may be legitimate software which would have had defective bugs before release and which were not corrected. Malwares get access into a personal computer system through a variety of ways, which include through an exchange of contaminated files, accessing contaminated online materials or even through legitimate download of corrupted software from the online stores. Attackers or the developers of these malware are known to attach the malware onto legitimate software online and as such, unsuspecting victims purchase the software only to have the harmful software get into their computer system.

However, such malware as spyware spread through individual installation by visiting security holes or even though installation of corrupted programs from harmful websites. Ill intentions by hackers or malware developers lead to the design and programming of the harmful software in order to access sensitive information from organizations or even private system. These software programs are used to steal sensitive financial, personal or even business information, which is targeted by the hackers.

Besides the use of malware to gather or ‘steal’ important information from corporate systems, the malicious software is used to disrupt the operations of computer systems and as a result bring about much suffering to organizations or corporate. The software has been used in many instances to target government operations, bank systems as well as corporate and private security systems for profit gains by the hackers (Reavis, 2012). The working of the different malicious software differs from one type to another.

Worms and virus are known to target executable software installed within computer systems and when the programs are run, the software spread to other software within the system of computers. This therefore imply that the spread and multiplication of the harmful software depend on the type where some do self replication while others depend on the running systems in order to spread. Furthermore, viruses spread through exchange of emails and Microsoft word documents, which are infected, and thus, upon opening of these documents, the virus gets access to the computer system.

Others also gain access into a system of computer through concealing their characteristics until they are from within the systems. Through this conciliation, they are able to carry out intended purposes in an undetected manner (Reavis, 2012). In sum, it is worth noting that no computer is immune absolutely to the malware attacks. There however anti-malware software which offer protection against these attacks with the most known among them being the ant-viruses that are installed to computers to detect and disable intrusion by the malware.

REFERENCESKlaus I. (2013). Viruses, Trojans, Malware - and other aspects of Internet Security. Apple support communities. Retrieved on 27 June, 2013 from:< https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-2435> Reavis J. (2012). The Ongoing Malware Threat: How Malware Infects Websites and Harms Businesses —and What You Can Do to Stop It. White Paper. Retrieved on 27 June, 2013 from: