NESTA Crime Online - University of Brighton Repository

26) Spyware: is computer software that is installed surreptitiously on a personal
computer to intercept or take partial control over the user's interaction with the
computer, without the user's informed consent. Spyware programs can collect various
types of personal information, such as Internet surfing habit, sites that have been
visited, but can also interfere with user control of the computer in other ways, such as
installing additional software, redirecting web browser activity, accessing websites
blindly that will cause more harmful viruses, or diverting advertising revenue to a third
party. Some are now starting to record mouse movements in a bid to foil the latest
security measures.
27) Trojan: like the wooden horse of legend this is a type of program or message
that looks benign but conceals a malicious payload. Many of the attachments on virus-
bearing e-mail messages carry Trojans.
28) Virus: is a computer program that can copy itself and infect a computer without
permission or knowledge of the user. The term ‘virus’ is also commonly used, albeit
erroneously, to refer to many different types of malware and adware programs. It
usually requires action to successfully infect a victim (for example, open an attachment
in an infected e-mail).
29) Vishing: is the criminal practice of using social engineering over the telephone,
most often using features facilitated by Voice over IP (VoIP), to gain access to private
personal and financial information for the purpose of financial reward. The term is a
combination of ‘voice’ and phishing.
30) Whitehat hacker: a hacker that uses his or her skills for positive ends and often
to thwart malicious hackers. Many whitehat security professionals spend their time
looking for and closing the bugs in code that blackhats are keen to exploit.
31) Worm: self-propelled malicious program that scours the web seeking new
victims – in the past this has been used to distinguish it from a virus that requires user
action to compromise a machine. Worms can infect and take over computers without
any help, bar lax security, from a victim.
32) Zombie: another name for a hijacked computer that is a member of a botnet.
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