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The use of the Internet continues to grow exponentially each and every year. Websites are assuming a greater role of importance as a place of business. Furthermore, the revenues generated from systems engaging in e-commerce mean that organizations and individuals are becoming more reliant on it as a core element of doing business and to conduct their everyday lives.

With the high level of usage of computers and the increasing dependency on e-commerce, it is of utmost importance that they are both protected against the threats that have also grown side-by-side with the Internet: hackers, viruses, denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, and even fraud.  The situation has become so prevalent that it is no longer just a battle, it has become a full-fledged war.

Understanding and knowledge is at the forefront in the war against these threats. Knowing how to address threats by identify the risks is the first step in winning the war. A key part of this knowledge is understanding the importance of a professional level anti-virus software program.  Implementing appropriate security measures to counter them should be at the top of the list.

First understand the differences between the threats, and then look at the solutions presented.

Understanding the risks from viruses, Trojans, and worms

In short, viruses, Trojans, and worms are all viral programs written to infect a computer and to perform a specific set of instructions.

These threats are generally spread from computer to computer through networks and the Internet. They replicate themselves on a computer usually without the knowledge of the user.

A Trojan horse is a program which allows a remote user (hacker) to bypass any of the normal security protocols by appearing to be a legitimate program. Hidden and imbedded within the program is another set of malicious code which gives the user unauthorized access and control over the computer.

Within this Trojan horse threat is a “back door” variation. It is used placed within the computer by a virus and allows the person whom sent it access to files on the computer as well as the ability to upload and modify any files found on the computer.

• Virulent risks to e-commerce systems

• Some viruses are classified as merely irritants; others, can have extremely detrimental to conducting online commerce. Some of the threats that they present are:

• The corruption or deletion of data on a server

• Stealing confidential information by enabling the use of keystroke recorders

• Enabling your computer to be used for malicious purposes (ie carrying out a denial-of-service (DoS) attack on another network.)

• Impacting customer and personal relationships by forwarding viruses to them from your email systems

Spyware

Spyware is software which is embedded into your computer as you browse certain Internet sites. It is used to secretly collect information about most of the things that you do while you are using the Internet. It then sends this information back to certain advertisers to tell them what advertisements to show to you.  In addition to its spying properties, it can slow down and crash computers because often the code is so poorly written.

Fraggling and smurfing

Smurfing, in general terms, consists of a denial of service (DoS) attack against a computer by means of using a vulnerable network. It involves sending a message (broadcast) from the attacker’s computer to all computers in the vulnerable network, simulating the victim and requesting a reply. In this way, the victim computer is saturated by numerous messages from computers on the network.
Fraggling is an enhanced version of smurfing, where the attacker, again simulating victim, requests more information from various computers on a network so the victim is even more saturated than in the previous case.

Preventative measures against viruses, Trojans, and worms

One of the single best ways in preventing a computer from becoming infected by any number of malicious threats is by installing a tested and professional level of anti-virus software.

Anti-virus software Solution

Detecting a virus on your computer is important, but it is after the fact. The best prevention is guarding against even allowing a virus to infect a computer to begin with. To stop it before it even gets a chance to start.

Unfortunately, some anti-virus software focuses on removing and fixing an infected machine. There are now many programs that have the ability to prevent infections before they happen.