Computer Virus

Security Threat

Description of the security threat and its impact to organizations. Provide an example.

What can organizations do to keep their information secure from each threat? Make sure you discuss both: technology tools (software or hardware) as well as the organizational strategies (policies, leadership, training, etc.).

Computer Virus

Description: Computer virus is a type of malware which is attached to a program. It is a piece of code which has a ability to reproduce. Every time the program runs, the virus runs too with it. A computer virus as always a man-made.

Impact: Computer viruses have lots of impact depending upon the type of viruses. Computer virus can effect the hardware such as keyboard and mouse, and lock them. They can also reduce the performance of computer. Some of them can start replicating the files causing machine to become overload.

Example of a Computer Virus: Examples of computer virus includes The Morris Worm, The concept Virus, CIH, The Melissa Virus, OSX/RSPlug Trojan etc.

Technology (software, hardware): There are number of Anti-virus software available to protect computer against virus. Anti-virus software detects the presence of virus and then removes it or prevent it from working. Example of such software is Norton Anti-virus.

Organizational strategies (policies, leadership, training, etc.): There should be a proper policy to train and remind the users against the virus threats, For example memos should be generated on regular basis to the users to remind them how to use anti virus software against the email attachments as these attachments also contains viruses sometimes.

Adware

 Description: Adware is a type of software that tracks the user's browsing history and generates pop up advertising or links to user history related pages.

Impact: If many adware programs are running at the same time, they can slow down the computer. They can also change browser settings.

Example: Peer-to-Peer file sharing programs contains adware. Sometimes, advance searching engines can also contain adware to for advertisement.

 Technology: Popup blocker and Firewalls should be Installed and maintained to avoid adware advertisements.

Organizational strategies: Organization can limit the internet usage by employees and trained them properly about the usage of firewall to protect the systems against the hacking through adware.

Spyware

Description: Spyware is technology that gathers the information from the user without his knowledge. It tracks the browsing history of the user and displays advertisement such as adware and gathered information that include personal information and bank credentials is sent to any third party ...