Chapter 2
Understanding Malware and Social Engineering
One of the most common threats to computers today is malicious software, or malware. Malware comes in many forms, such as viruses, worms, and Trojan horses. It’s important to understand how serious the threat is and what you can do to protect computers and networks. The primary protection is antivirus (AV) software. Most AV software will protect against all types of malware, not just viruses.
Social engineering is another common threat. An overwhelming number of attackers out there want to steal people’s identities, steal their financial data, steal their money, or simply trick them into adding their computer to a massive robot network ready to attack others. Social engineers are tricky, ...