Computer Security Against Viruses and Hacking Essay

In the early days of computing, a hacker was primarily referred to as a computer guru, someone who is extremely technical with a high expertise in computer also known as “Expert Programmers”. Nevertheless, as technology is advancing at a face pace, hacking has adopted a completely different definition. The modern definition is someone who access a computer system primarily to steal or destroy information. Hacking has caused major harm in the realm of technology. Over the years, hackers have become much more lethal in their craft. They manage to break into complex information systems from entities such as banks, government agencies, and private businesses. Furthermore, they often manipulate their victims through social engineering in order to obtain financial benefits. Hackers hold different label such as: black hat hacker and white hat hacker in which all have their own motives.

Malware refers to any computer program that is designed to do things that are harmful to or unwanted by a computer's legitimate user.

Computer virus is a program that can copy itself and infect a computer without the permission or knowledge of the user. Viruses perform some type of harmful activity such as accessing private information or corrupting

Scareware: malware designed to trick victims into purchasing and downloading useless and potentially dangerous software

A computer hacker is someone who can break into your computer and steal whatever information you have in your system. All of your private information that you think is safe, is not safe anymore. These hackers can take the

Each year there are many attempts to illegal gain entry into networks by attackers to steal information. Some attacks are designed to steal information while other may be to attack a system to cause damage or disrupt services. Attack can happen from anywhere in the world due to the internet and networks. A person from China can hack into an American network or such Stuxnet virus attack on Iran nuclear power plan which thought to be from Israel or United States but it is unsure where the virus originated from. According to Merkow & Breithaupt (2006), viruses caused the greatest financial loss over other computer crimes, (p 142). Worm is a type of virus which replicates and can easily infect a machine and then spread out across the network by using transport features of the computer or network.

I am talking about computer viruses. I talk about the main things people should know about computer viruses. This should know more about computer viruses. I also talk about how to get rid of a computer virus and many other things. Computer viruses are dangerous, that’s why I have chosen this topic.

Hackers – A person who uses computers to gain unauthorized access to data. Most hackers use Trojan which is a malware disguised as harmless software. The intent of the hacker is to get people to click on links and phishing scams. When a person who is clueless believe it’s from somebody close to them or coworkers. But, it was hackers trying to get in through emails and stuff and they use many tools.

Viruses and worms are malicious programs that self-replicate on computers or through computer systems without the user being cognizant. Worms are a series programs that repeat themselves from system to system minus the use of a host fie. Worms use methods to infiltrate remote computers and launch replicas of themselves like email messages or coping files to an accessible disk. A computer virus is a

From wireless telegraphy to supercomputers, hacking has played a crucial role in technological history. Through the decades, hackers have been manipulating different forms of technology through the various tools that they create. Many different methods of hacking have surfaced and every generation seems to create a different tool to aid hackers with their goals. Whether their goal is to deface a website, engage in internet activism or steal money for monetary gain, hackers will always play an active part in our history. This essay will cover many different hackers, their tools, their motives and mostly

These can harbor behind-the-scenes computer viruses or open a “back door” giving others access to your computer without your knowledge.

Because there are so many kinds, “virus” is typically the term used to describe all the nasty stuff that can infect your computer. But the correct term is actually malware, and there’s lots of it. Chris Hoffman wrote an article differentiating between the three main types of malware: viruses, trojans and worms. In that same article, he also briefly explains what spyware and scareware are. Scareware, or ransomware, is simply a program that infects your computer and then prompts you to pay to get it fixed. Guy McDowell goes more in depth in what ransomware is and how to remove it. Lastly, there’s adware, i.e. unsolicited advertising installed on your

Malwares are mischievous programs crafted to agitate or forbid normal operations to gather selected information which may lead to loss of privacy through

These individuals are often malicious and have many means at their disposal for breaking into a [computer] system”(Dictionary.com). The third type is called a phreaker. “A phreaker is a [hacker] who engages in the art of phreaking” : [frddk-ing phone phreak] Phreaking is the art and science of cracking the telephone network so as, for example, to make free long-distance phone calls”(Dictionary.com).

As the world becomes more and more reliant on computers the computer hacking industry is greatly rising. With people such as Kevin Mitnick, who is known as a "computer terrorist" (Kjochaiche 1), computerized information isn't safe any more. Kevin is known as "the most high-profiled computer criminal and responsible for more havoc in the computer world today."(1) He considered this a fun and easy task. He got caught and thrown into prison, but once he got out nothing changed. Kevin stated that as long as the technology is there it just calls to people to break into it. Computer hackers usually start off young, thinking that it is nothing but a little harmless fun. But as they get older, they realize it has turned into