Malware: The Computer Virus

Over the years, America and other nations all over the world have gone through many changes. One of those changes involves the evolution of technology. Technology has become so advanced that there is literally a more advanced way to handling daily operations. From automatic cash registers to intelligence gathering, technology has inevitably played an essential role in the way the countries all over the world have advanced. Unfortunately with that success, there are more opportunities for hackers to override those systems in order to steal information from unsuspecting users who have entrusted their most private information into the computer system. With credit card, bank account and all personal information stored on the computer now, all of …show more content…
Over the years, the term Malware has taken on different names and meanings. Before Malware became the definitive term, it was known as the computer virus. The term Malware was coined in 1990 by scientist Yisrael Radi. Although Malware was known as a different name before 1990, the purpose of Malware is still the same. Malware is defined as malicious software that is installed and designed with the purpose of infecting the user’s computer system. Malware can either affect the user individually or it can effect and damage the entire organization. The victim circumstances depend on the hacker’s intent.
Although Malware is designed for malicious intent, the system itself is only the broader term. Malware is the overall software that is designed, but there are variants of Malware that are more specific and have different intents when it comes to the victim. Among those variants include Trojan Horses, Worms, Rootkits, Spyware and Phishing. The terms are different and each form of Malware are known for their own purposes. As a collective unit, their purpose is universally the same, which is to inflict as much damage on the user or users as much as …show more content…
As many would guess, this form of Malware was derived from the Greek story of the Trojan horse, which the Greek used to deceive the Trojans into their most sanctified wall. By gaining entry into the Trojan wall without the Trojans knowing, the Trojans were ultimately destroyed and their wall crumbled. The Trojan horse virus is essentially the same way. It is a program that appears to be harmless, but in actuality it is designed to unload worms, viruses and spyware. It is considered to be one of the more dangerous forms of Malware, due to its inability to replicate and its difficult classification as a virus. Another reason that it is considered to be one of the more dangerous forms of Malware is due to the fact that it is secretive and unsuspecting. The attachment appears to the user’s email account or server as a harmless attachment. Once the user opens the attachment, the software is downloaded and all of the personal information that is stored on the computer is now in the hacker’s