Tools
Threat Types
Adware
A program that displays advertising material to computer users, potentially in a manner or context that is unexpected or unwanted.
Adware is sometimes considered a "gray" area in terms of ethics and legality. They range from legitimate programs that display unobtrusive content and are willingly installed by the user, all the way to programs that silently install themselves and barrage the user with inappropriate content.
Some adware will perform user behavior monitoring to determine the best advertising material to display based on the user's preferences; this function may or may not be disclosed to the user.
Backdoor
A remote administration utility which bypasses normal security mechanisms to secretly control a program, computer or network.
Backdoors are sometimes considered a form of riskware, as they can be legitimately used by trusted users or system administrators, but can also be misused by an attacker to remotely usurp control of the system.
Bluetooth-Worm
Bluetooth is a wireless communications technology, commonly used by computers and other electronic devices. A Bluetooth-worm primarily replicates by spreading over Bluetooth networks to infect other Bluetooth-enabled systems and devices.
Dialer
A program that connects the computer to the Internet via a telephone line and modem.
Malicious dialers secretly connect the computer to premium-rate lines, greatly increasing the usage charges payable by the user.
Email-Worm
A worm that mainly spreads via e-mail.
The worm may be delivered in an infected e-mail attachment, which usually requires the user to double-click and run the attachment before the worm can infect the system.
Alternatively, the worm may be delivered as code embedded in the e-mail message itself; in this case, the user may not need to do anything other than view the e-mail in order for the system to be infected, as the worm exploits a vulnerability in the operating system or web browser to automatically execute its code.
Exploit
A program or piece of code that is specifically written to take advantage of a vulnerability, in order to provide an attacker with access to a vulnerable computer system, program or network.
HackTool
A utility designed to access remote computers. Though legal, a hacktool can be used with malicious intent.
Hijacker
A program that hijacks a user's web browser or user session for its own purposes, usually to misdirect the user to another website, or to steal sensitive information.
Hoax
A program which does not function as claimed, and may have been promoted using deceptive or fraudulent means.
IM-Worm
A worm that spreads primarily on instant messaging networks, most commonly by sending messages with infected attachment to all of an infected user's contacts.