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When it comes to computer security, there are a lot of terms that get thrown around. Viruses used to be all you needed to worry about, but now we have adware, spyware, Trojan Horses, and rootkits, just to name a handful. Knowing what these things are is the first step towards protecting yourself, so I've put together this handy glossary of terms for you.

• Malware: This is the new wrap-it-all-up term that we use to describe malicious software. Malware can be any type of software that you don't want to be involved with.
• Virus: A computer virus, much like a natural virus, infects a host, and then spreads when that host contacts other computers. The first viruses spread via floppy disks, but they can also spread through documents, emails, and open file shares on servers, which is more common these days.
• Worm: A worm utilizes security vulnerabilities to spread itself through computer networks. It does not need a host to move from system to system, like a virus does.
• Trojan horse: If you don't know the story, the Trojan horse was a large wooden horse that was given to the people of Troy as a gift. It hid a group of soldiers that broke out in the middle of the night and opened the gates for the Greeks to burn the city down. The computer version of these is probably the most popular attack these days. They are pieces of software that seem helpful, but contain a piece of malware that attacks your system. Commonly, these are distributed through social networks, as media decoders, but there are many others also, including the first successful Mac OS X malware.
• Rootkit: A rootkit is a particularly scary piece of malware, since it completely hides itself from its host. These are probably the most technically advanced of all the malware, and the hardest to find and get rid of.
• Adware: Adware is specifically designed to display pop-up ads on your computer, usually while you are surfing the web. These are huge annoyances, and are usually delivered through Trojan horses. A couple of the more infamous ones of the early 2000's are Gator and BargainBuddy, however legitimate software that is ad-supported can be considered adware also.
• Spyware: Spyware is software that monitors your activity on your computer, especially on the Internet. It usually uses your browsing habits to display ads that are contextually sensitive. Since this software monitors everything on your machine, it can also cause significant performance issues.
• Crimeware: This is actually a new one to me, but is used to classify any malware that is used in a criminal manner, i.e. identity theft or credit card fraud. It can also be used to describe software that creates a path into a secured network for further attacks.
• Keylogger: A keylogger is a type of crimeware that usually comes in from a Trojan horse attack. It is specifically designed to steal your information, like passwords and credit card numbers. It does this by monitoring the keys you press on your keyboard, and then searching through all of that data for strings like 16 numbers in a row (being a credit card number). This data is then sent to a server, and either used against you or sold to someone who wants it.

As you can see, each of these threats requires its own type of protection, and just like you can't expect your body to stay healthy if you only take asprin once a day, you can't expect your PC to be happy with just virus protection. The good news is that most of these threats can be avoided if you know where to find them, so my goal over the next few weeks will be to show you what to look for to help you stay safe. Just like with your personal health, your PC can be a lot healthier with a little hand washing every now and then. Next time, I'll open up this can of worms by exploring Trojan horses.

Until next time, stay safe!