Finally, there are a number of terms associated with software that attempts to harm computers in different ways. Collectively these are known as ‘malware’ (a contraction of malicious software).
Depending on what the malware does, different terms are used to in relation to malware. For example:
- ransomware is malware that demands payment in order to refrain from doing some harmful action or to undo the effects of the harmful action
- spyware records the activities of the user, such as the passwords they type into the computer, and transmits this information to the person who wrote the malware
- botnets are created using malware that allows an attacker to control a group of computers and use them to gather personal information or launch attacks against others, such as for sending spam emails or flooding a website with so many requests for content that the server cannot cope, called a denial-of-service attack.
Threatsaurus
There are lots of technical terms relating to cyber security and it can be difficult to keep track of what’s what.
Sophos is one of the major players in the anti-malware business. They publish a Threatsaurus to help you remember and define the terms relating to malware. The Threatsauras is a plain-English guide, to help IT managers and end users understand the threats posed by malicious software. The Threatsaurus, includes:
- an A–Z glossary on computer and data security threats
- practical tips to stay safe from email scams, identity theft, malware and other threats
- a guide to Sophos’s security software and hardware.
- Download the Sophos Threatsaurus PDF here or from the Sophos website.
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