Privacy, Security & Virus Information

Latest Virus Threats

Internet security and virus threats change and evolve on a daily basis making it essential to have up-to-date anti-virus software on your PC. These threats to your PC’s security are also becoming cleverer and more sophisticated as they try to access your files and disrupt your computer usage and your PC’s stability.

New threats and viruses are created on a daily basis and the latest and newest virus threats appearing on the Internet security landscape appear to be coming from Trojan viruses.

A Trojan virus is a virus that disguises itself as a useful piece of software that is available for download over the Internet. The Trojan virus can be so deceiving that often people download it thinking it is some other application when actually it is a virus. Once the virus is downloaded it means that the attacker who planted the virus in the first place has a certain level of control over your PC and they can therefore use the virus in a destructive manner. There are currently a number of Trojan viruses on the Internet which can be categorised as follows:

• Remote access Trojans – these viruses allow the attacker to gain access to your computer and therefore have complete control over your computer system. They allow the attacker to look through your computer files and access all the information that is stored on your computer. This is particularly worrying if you have stored your bank details, passwords or other personal information on your computer
• Password Sending Trojans – these Trojans are programmed to copy all the cached passwords that you have saved on your Internet browser as well as having the ability to look through your computer to locate other password files
• Key Loggers – this sophisticated virus monitors your keystrokes and then sends this data to the attacker. This attacker can then look through the files to see whether there are any usernames and passwords, or any type of sensitive and personal data that can be used for their advantage
• Destructive Trojans – this is a disruptive type of virus as it will destroy and delete files on your computer. This not only includes your personal files but core system files as well
• Denial of Service (Dos) Attack Trojans – this Trojan will produce Internet traffic onto your computer which then blocks up the server and Internet connection therefore not allowing you to visit a website as the server has become too congested
• Proxy Trojans – a proxy Trojan is very destructive in the fact that is has the ability to change the computer into a proxy or wingate server which makes the computer accessible to the entire world for anonymous access to a whole variety of unsafe Internet services
• FTP Trojans – this Trojan allow anyone access to your computer via a FTP protocol
• Software Detection Killers – this virus will ensure that you are unable to connect or use your anti-virus software that is loaded to protect your computer meaning your computer is open to a whole range of security threats.

To avoid becoming a victim of these latest Trojan viruses in circulation online it is important to keep your anti-virus software up-to-date. As well as these Trojan viruses there are also a number of other virus threats that are currently around posing great risk to your computer. However, if you have an up-to-date anti-virus software loaded onto your PC that is updated on a regular basis, your PC will be in the best position to be protected against these.

 

Article by Sarah Wain, 18th November 2011. Content correct at the date of publication.