Internet security

Internet security

Definitions for common terms and phrases related to security threats, vulnerabilities, and technology.

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Internet security

dropper

Internet; Internet security

This executable file, when run, drops a virus or Trojan on a computer system. A dropper file intends to create a virus or Trojan and then execute it on the user’s system.

companion virus

Internet; Internet security

This viral program uses a feature of DOS, allowing software programs with the same name but different extensions to operate with different priorities. It does not attach to other programs.

.dam

Internet; Internet security

This file is part of the McAfee convention for naming viruses and Trojans. This suffix is attached to the end of virus names to indicate that the sample is damaged and will not run. Detection for ...

universal serial bus (USB)

Internet; Internet security

An industry-standard connector on almost all modern computers. This connects multiple devices, ranging from keyboards and mice to webcams, scanners, and printers. Versions USB1 and USB2 differ in ...

An application that scans a computer’s memory and disk drives for viruses. If it finds a virus, the application informs the user and may clean, delete, or quarantine any files, directories, or disks ...

command (COM) file

Internet; Internet security

Executable files that contain instructions for a computer to perform an action, COM (. Com) files are for DOS-based systems and tend to run faster than EXE (. Exe) programs. Viruses often infect COM ...

wild

Internet; Internet security

A term used interchangeably with “out in the field” that refers to how prevalent a virus has become. When McAfee announces that a virus is “out in the wild” or “out in the field,” our assessment ...