Malicious software, hacking and penetration testing

Overview

Computer virus, three vectors by which malware reaches a computer and black hat hacking.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   What is malware?

   Model answer

   Malware is any software written to damage a system or to take data without permission. The term covers viruses, worms, trojans, spyware and ransomware.

2. 2

   What is a computer virus?

   Model answer

   A virus is malicious code that attaches itself to another program or file. The code spreads when that infected file is opened or run.

3. 3

   What is a worm, and how does it differ from a virus?

   Model answer

   A worm is malware that copies itself across a network without needing a host file. A virus has to be carried inside another file in order to spread.

4. 4

   What is a trojan?

   Model answer

   A trojan is malware disguised as a useful program that the user chooses to install. The hidden payload runs once the program is trusted and opened.

5. 5

   What is ransomware, and what is the reliable defence against it?

   Model answer

   Ransomware encrypts the victim's files and demands payment for the key. Recent offline backups are the reliable defence, because the files can simply be restored.

6. 6

   What is spyware?

   Model answer

   Spyware records what a user does and reports it to somebody else. A keylogger that captures typed passwords is one form of spyware.

Other ways to work this

The same content, four other ways.

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.