Most new users of Internet-enabled computers are blissfully ignorant about the threats to the data security and integrity of their computers emanating from their online surfing habits.
All shades of people ply the Internet and some of them use their top notch programming skills to convert your system into a zombie computer. Here you will find some knowledge enhancing FAQs about zombie computers.
What is a zombie computer?
A zombie computer is an Internet-connected desktop or notebook PC, which has its software or data security compromised. After this occurs, it is no longer controlled by its rightful owner or de facto user, but remotely by an unknown third person. It no longer works like a normal computer does.
Once a computer becomes so infected, the third party utilizes it to compromise the security of other Internet-enabled computers. In most cases, the hapless user of the computer does not even become aware that his/her computer's security has been breached.
What is the mechanism by which a remote entity is able to compromise the integrity of a computer system?
Well, some persons known as hackers use their in-depth knowledge about existing loopholes in computer operating systems, application software, and the way the Internet works. The security breach of computers is almost always perpetrated by hackers to showcase their considerable programming talent. They usually do this to upstage operating system and application program developers by pointing out lacuna in programming. No software is ever perfect. This fact is exploited by hackers by using skillfully designed rogue program code snippet to breach the data security through the comparative anonymity the Internet bestows on them.
Okay, I now understand that the breach of software security of a computer occurs through use of a rogue program to exploit weaknesses or loopholes inherent in all software. Please provide more details on such rogue programs?
A virus or a worm is the most common rogue program used by a third party to infect and compromise the security of a computer. It is capable of replicating itself. A rogue program that cannot replicate itself is known as a Trojan. It hides itself in legitimate software and when the unsuspecting user clicks the software, the Trojan clandestinely fires and exploits one or more security loopholes in software on the computer. In this way it compromises the integrity of the system.
A backdoor Trojan provides its author remote control over the computer it infects. A downloader Trojan is a rogue program designed to download malicious code on to an ignorant computer user. A hacking attack on a computer that poses great danger to several Internet-connected networked computers is known as a DDoS (distributed denial-of-service). It is first used to compromise the normal working of a web server by flooding it with more traffic than it can handle through a DoS (denial-of-service) attack. It then uses the web server to propagate similar attacks on other web servers.
How can I prevent my computer from becoming a remote controlled zombie?
You can prevent your computer from becoming a remote controlled zombie, by installing a good firewall, antivirus software, and anti-spyware on it. Norton Internet Security Suite and Quick Heal Total Security Suite are two of the best protections that inoculate your computer against most Internet-emanating security threats.
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