Hacker Techniques, Tools, and Incident Handling

Chapter 10. Malware, Worms, and Viruses

ONE OF THE PROBLEMS in the technology business that has grown considerably over the years is the issue of malware. Malware in all its forms has moved from being one of a simple annoyance to one of downright maliciousness. Software in this category has evolved to the point of being dangerous, as it now can steal passwords, personal information, and plenty of other information from an unsuspecting user.

Malware is nothing new, even though the term may be. The problem has existed for years under different names such as viruses, worms, adware, scareware, and spyware. But is has become easier to spread because of the convenient distribution channel the Internet offers, as well as the increasingly clever social-engineering ...