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