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9 Computer Malware

Pre-Processing
Pre-Processing
• What Malware Can Do? • What Malware Cannot Do?
• Sources of Malware • Indications of Malware Infection
• Types of Malware • Preventing Malware Infections
• Antivirus Software

Malware is a Malicious Software, designed to gain access or damage a computer without the
knowledge of the user. Malware can includes viruses, worms, trojan horses, rootkits, and other
activities.

Malware

Viruses Worms Trojan horses Rootkits Other malicious
activities

WHAT MALWARE CAN DO?

Malware can harm your computer in many ways. Some of these are:
• It can slow down the speed of your computer.
• It can corrupt the program and data files stored in your
computer.
• It can cause problems while connecting to a network.
• It may open unwanted pop-up windows on your computer.
• It allows hackers to access sensitive information stored on
your computer.
• It can send junk or spam email, and destroy or corrupt email messages from your email account.
• It can install other malware on your computer.

WHAT MALWARE CANNOT DO?

Malware cannot perform the following tasks:
• It cannot harm read-only media such as CD-ROMs
or DVD-ROMs.

• It cannot cause damage to the hardware of a
computer system.
• It cannot cause a computer to stop functioning,
as it needs the computer system to cause further damage.

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