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A Brief History of Malware

Computer viruses were not too much of a problem while computers operated alone, with only floppy disks
transferring information between them. Ever since the internet started up, viruses have proliferated.

Then came SPAM (unsolicited bulk email) trying to sell you something or gain access to your banking details.

Pop-up ads became prevalent as soon as the operating system software made it possible for them
to run.

The most recent type of malware, and in many ways, the most difficult to avoid or remove is Adware. This
class of malware includes software which installs itself, usually in multiple locations within your PC, in order
to make it difficult to remove. It then hijacks your Internet Explorer home page (so that the malware author
can collect money for sending traffic to third party sites with which he has an agreement) or attempts to induce
you to buy software to fix the problem (which it created in the first place). You can generally go round this
circle as many times as you are willing to pay the money, as each time it "fixes" one problem it creates the
next one.

Many of these programs gain access to your PC by associating themselves with popular "free" programs.
They exploit the fact that most people do not read the terms and conditions before clicking "I agree" and
downloading software from the web. As a result, such piggyback malware gets onto your PC legally (but
not ethically). Peer-to-peer music file-sharing programs are one of the most frequent sources of this problem.
If you look at the terms and conditions, and they run for more than say ten pages, then you can almost
guarantee that buried somewhere in the file will be a clause which in essence gives the program owner
permission to do whatever he likes with your PC whenever he likes, and there is nothing you can do about it.

Broadband connection provides an ideal opportunity for all sorts of unwanted programs (malware) to gain
access to your PC. It is essential to have up-to-date software/hardware in place. Failure to do so can cost
you money, not just in lost time and repair bills, but also in extra charges from your service provider. Many
of the free internet chat rooms are free only because the server and bandwidth resources required to run
them are obtained by stealing them from unsuspecting PC owners anywhere in the world. The first clue that
your computer has been hijacked is that it starts to run slowly when you connect to the internet and that you
receive notification from your ISP that you have exceeded your monthly free download allowance, and will
then be charged per megabyte.

I'm often asked why people write malware and cause others so much grief, frustration and financial loss. The
short answer is because they don't care about the consequences. Criminals make a living by stealing from
other people. Where money is not the incentive, there are probably many other reasons - ranging from a
hatred of Microsoft, the USA and capitalism to the intellectual challenge, impressing your peers, getting your
name (or at least the name of your virus) into the news for a day or two.

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