Computer Viruses

History

• Malicious software – 1970’s

• Programs distributed over exchange servers speeds spread of viruses

• Brain sparks term: Virus

Historical Viruses

• Brain

• VirDem

• Lehigh

• Chameleon – Polymorphic

• DAME

• VCL

More History

• CDs make removal difficult

• Macro viruses

• Remote control becomes prevalent

• Spread via email

• Downloading and file sharing

Virus Types and Descriptors

• Resident

• Direct Action

• Overwrite

• Boot Sector

• Macro

• Directory

• Encrypted

More Viruses

• Polymorphic

• Multipartite

• File Infector

• Companion

• FAT

• XSSV

• Sentinel

Even More Viruses

• Stealth• Armored• Sparse Infector• Fast and Slow Infector• Worms• Trojan Horses• Logic Bombs• Hoaxes

Anti-Virus

• Searches for known viruses

• Requirements– Bit-level work– Good error handling– Fast, dynamic life cycle

• Also identifies suspicious behavior

• Scans incoming and outgoing behavior

Prevention and Aid

• Techniques– Deletion– Quarantine– Repair

• Polymorphic viruses make detection via dictionary difficult

• Suspicious behavior’s advantages

• Sandboxes and Blueprints

Other Methods

• Education

• Email filtering

• User knowledge

Spyware

• Definition

• Symptoms

• Methods of infection

• Results– Phone home– Remote access

• Zombie attacks

Spyware

• Rootkit– Sony

• Prevention– Anti-spyware programs

• Not always the most effective

– Safe internet practices

Survey

• We surveyed 40 people on the Pace University Campus

• We asked questions related to demographic information and regarding virus preparedness

Male vs. Female

male, 16

female, 24

male

female

Preparedness

yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

no

no

no

no

no

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Up to Date Anti-Virus Software

Do not openemails fromstrangers

Readagreements

presented onweb sites

Have computeror networkfirewalled

Do any of theabove

yes

no

Conclusion

• Viruses and Spyware pose an increasing threat

• Prevention methods do not include software alone

• Many methods which are common knowledge to those familiar with computers are not common practice