Malicious software
The security-related behaviors listed above are also characteristic of malicious software. There are many types of malicious software, including, but not limited to:
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Backdoor. This software provides an undocumented way of gaining
access to a program, online service, or an entire computer system. |
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Dialer. This software installs itself in a computer's dial-up settings
and dials numbers without the user's knowledge. |
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Worm. This software spreads to computers on a network
automatically, without human action. Then the worm resides in computer memory
and performs detrimental tasks. |
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Trojan. This software initially appears useful or benign to deceive
users into running it. While it runs, it can allow "back door"
access to the computer by hackers, destroy files on a hard disk, or perform
other malicious tasks. |
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Remote access Trojan (RAT). This class of Trojan software enables a
hacker to control another computer remotely through an Internet connection,
with the privileges of a computer administrator. |
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Phishing. This software is used to create fraudulent e-mail or Web pages
that appear to be from an established legitimate enterprise. Its purpose is
to deceive the user into providing private information that can be used for
identity theft. |
Spyware-based threats to security continue to evolve, becoming more complex and sophisticated, and propagating with increasing speed. It is important that users be alerted to new, existing, and emerging threats that demonstrate malicious behaviors.