Viruses Will Come a-Knocking

Every day new computer viruses are created to annoy us and to wreak havoc on our computer systems. Below are ten viruses that I feel are very prevalent and potentially damaging to the average person's computer system.

This is by no means a comprehensive, complete list. New viruses are constructed DAILY and there are hundreds of thousands of different viruses being circulated constantly online. To avoid becoming 'infected', remain vigilant (don't EVER surf the web with your 'anti-anything-ware' shut off - even for a few minutes!) Keep your anti-virus software updated, and stay aware of the current computer virus threats.

Here's the small list of viruses that are very common

Virus: Trojan.Lodear
A Trojan horse that attempts to download remote files. It will inject a .dll file into the EXPLORER.EXE process causing system instability.

Virus: W32(dot)Beagle(dot)CO(at)mm (sorry had to type out the dot and @ sign because the blogger software kept making a link of the virus name)

A mass-mailing worm that lowers security settings. It can delete security-related registry sub keys and may block access to security-related websites.

Virus: Backdoor.Zagaban
A Trojan horse that allows the compromised computer to be used as a covert proxy and which may degrade network performance.

Virus: W32/Netsky-P
A mass-mailing worm which spreads by emailing itself to addresses produced from files on the local drives.

Virus: W32/Mytob-GH
A mass-mailing worm and IRC backdoor Trojan for the Windows platform. Messages sent by this worm will have the subject chosen randomly from a list including titles such as: Notice of account limitation, Email Account Suspension, Security measures, Members Support, Important Notification.

Virus: W32/Mytob-EX
A mass-mailing worm and IRC backdoor Trojan similar in nature to W32-Mytob-GH. W32/Mytob-EX runs continuously in the background, providing a backdoor server which allows a remote intruder to gain access and control over the computer via IRC channels. This virus spreads by sending itself to email attachments harvested from your email addresses.

Virus: W32/Mytob-AS, Mytob-BE, Mytob-C, and Mytob-ER
This family of worm variations possesses similar characteristics in terms of what they can do. They are mass-mailing worms with backdoor functionality that can be controlled through the Internet Relay Chat (IRC) network. Additionally, they can spread through email and through various operating system vulnerabilities such as the LSASS (MS04-011).

Virus: Zafi-D
A mass mailing worm and a peer-to-peer worm which copies itself to the Windows system folder with the filename Norton Update.exe. It can then create a number of files in the Windows system folder with filenames consisting of 8 random characters and a DLL extension. W32/Zafi-D copies itself to folders with names containing share, upload, or music as ICQ 2005a new!.exe or winamp 5.7 new!.exe. W32/Zafi-D will also display a fake error message box with the caption "CRC: 04F6Bh" and the text "Error in packed file!". Virus: W32/Netsky-DA mass-mailing worm with IRC backdoor functionality which can also infect computers vulnerable to the LSASS (MS04-011) exploit.

Virus: W32/Zafi-B
A peer-to-peer (P2P) and email worm that will copy itself to the Windows system folder as a randomly named EXE file. This worm will test for the presence of an internet connection by attempting to connect to www.google.com or www.microsoft.com. A bilingual, worm with an attached Hungarian political text message box which translates to "We demand that the government accommodates the homeless, tightens up the penal code and VOTES FOR THE DEATH PENALTY to cut down the increasing crime. Jun. 2004, Pécs (SNAF Team)"

THESE ARE ALL VERY NASTY, but this is a very tiny list indeed. I thought I should post about what a few viruses DO TO YOUR COMPUTER so that if anyone has been having computer troubles and has NOT yet suspected a virus as the culprit, they can start to point their attention in the right direction to try to figure out if a virus is making their computer run slow, show error messages and display other virus-related problems.

Run your anti-virus software's scan mode often - and UPDATE your software often. Many anti-virus programs can help you detect and clean your computer - but no program will help you if you're not doing regular scans and updates.

Online Safety - About Passwords

A problem that many people have regarding passwords is that they FORGET THEM! In most cases, this worry (or actuality) about forgetting passwords makes people try to come up with more memorable passwords.

In doing so, most people end up using 'familiar' words. In an effort to be able to use their 'regular' or 'common' or 'most used' passwords QUICKLY (in a hurry), which only make the passwords EASIER FOR HACKERS to uncover! Often people will use children, parent or pet names, birthdays, or the numerical digits of the current month - as password material - when they sign up for various internet products, memberships or services that require passwords.

Hackers can easily dissemble and figure out such information - they are EXPERTS at working with alphabet characters used for passwords and are CORRECT in assuming that they'll be working with the alphabet. The alphabet has a finite number of characters (26) and even if 'caps' are added, this brings the total of possible characters to 52! Computer programs can easily handle 'combinations' for only 52 possible characters and I won't even hazard a GUESS as to how many kinds of 'combination generator' programs have been made to DO JUST THIS and provide every combination of a 52 character-string that is possible!

Many security information sites I've visited suggest that users make passwords that aren't stricly considered 'WORDS.' (There are also some 'info-sites' that suggest the opposite, and I will mention these AS A WARNING TID-BIT at the end of this post).

A first step in following this advice and arrange a 'more secure' password is to make sure and use a numerical digit within your word, if you still insist on using a 'word' that is simple enough to remember. Remember, this will only make your password 'more secure' but your password will still be relatively easy for a hacker to deal with and uncover. Adding a number to your password will make your password slightly better than if you use only letters, so if for some reason, you can only do this with your password, DO IT! Any 'better measure' that can be taken, rather than only using letters - is much recommended!

A next step to making the your password just a little bit tougher for hackers to figure out - is to use other symbols as well as letters and numbers - wherever possible. Some sites won't accept anything but numerical or alphabetical data, but use whatever is allowed - whatever will give your password more variety of characters.

A further step, where possible - that will make a safer password is the 'passphrase.' Though a passphrase will still use words, it will likely also allow numbers and other symbols. Even if it only accepts letters, the password will be much LONGER than 'password-cracking' software that most hackers use and will include SPACES that will hinder a hacker's ability to 'crack' it. The sheer TIME IT WILL TAKE a hacker to figure out more combinations of words, letters, numbers, spaces and additional symbols will probably not be worth a hacker's time - thus, you have heightened your security.

Many of the sites that will accept the 'passphrase' will have excellent, well-monitored 'tools' on their site to help you with the creation of your passphrase, so go ahead and use passphrases wherever you can!

Additionally, use a password management tool. Most are designed, not just to make passwords difficult for hackers by way of 'form,' (the password, itself looks difficult for hackers to figure out), but also by special encryption benefits written into the password management tool software! That is - the program might actually be 'active' and re-write password codes FOR YOU, making your passwords LOOK DIFFERENT TO HACKERS everytime you need to use a password.

NEVER USE THE SAME PASSWORDS FOR DIFFERENT ACCOUNTS!

About sites that make suggestions about how to make 'easy to remember but secure passwords.' Read the information carefully on sites like these. If their advice say, in fact, to use 'easy to remember' words - Don't Go For This!

The only time that an easy-to-remember password might be worth using - is if you know you are going to be changing the password within the next half hour - into something MORE SECURE!

I understand that when doing 'account creation' online - where 'confirmation emails' are often part of the process, making the 'sign-up' process require more time - you might want to fill out account information in a hurry. Use your own judgement with this, in making an 'easily-hacked' password when you're in a hurry!

If you do this - CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD AS SOON AS THE ACCOUNT IS CONFIRMED AND FUNCTIONAL!

Many sites offer 'password suggestions' during sign-up...if the suggestion contains numbers, go ahead and use them - then CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD ANYWAY AS SOON AS THE ACCOUNT IS CONFIRMED AND FUNCTIONAL!

Other sites give 'helpful' information about making passwords and their information is simply OUT OF DATE.

Number combinations with just letters USED TO BE a fairly secure way to make a password several years ago. This isn't the case anymore, so...

PLEASE BE CAREFUL...