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Virus/Spyware/Malware/Adware/Trojan Removal |
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Is your computer running slow? Do you get annoying pop-ups? Are you constantly redirected to advertising when surfing the web? Are you informed that your computer is infected with a million and one viruses? Changes are you have caught an infection. Nowadays there is more to worry about then just viruses. Malware: Malware, short for malicious software, (sometimes referred to as pestware) is a software designed to harm or secretly access a computer system without the owner’s informed consent. Viruses: A computer virus is a computer program that can copy itself and infect a computer. The term “virus” is also commonly but erroneously used to refer to other types of malware, including but not limited to adware and spyware programs that do not have the reproductive ability. A true virus can spread from one computer to another (in some form of executable code) when its host is taken to the target computer; for instance because a user sent it over a network or the Internet, or carried it on a removable medium such as a floppy disk, CD, DVD, or USB drive. Spyware: Spyware is a type of malware that can be installed on computers, and which collects small pieces of information about users without their knowledge. The presence of spyware is typically hidden from the user, and can be difficult to detect. Typically, spyware is secretly installed on the user’s personal computer. Adware: Adware, or advertising-supported software, is any software package which automatically plays, displays, or downloads advertisements to a computer. These advertisements can be in the form of a pop-up. The object of the Adware is to generate revenue for its author. Adware, by itself, is harmless; however, some adware may come with integrated spyware such as keyloggers and other privacy-invasive software. Trojans: A Trojan horse, or Trojan, is software that appears to perform a desirable function for the user prior to run or install, but (perhaps in addition to the expected function) steals information or harms the system. The term is derived from the Trojan Horse story in Greek mythology. You could be infected and not even know it. In most cases the infection can be removed, however in some cases, depending on the infection, your computer will need to be reformatted. Your computers data will be backed up before formatting and personal data (E-Mails, My Documents, Desktop items, Programs that are provided) are restored upon reformatting so you have lost nothing, except the infection of cause. |
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