Internet security

Internet security

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

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Internet security

.dr

Internet; Internet security

Part of the McAfee convention for naming viruses and Trojans. This suffix is attached to the end of virus names to indicate a “dropper,” a file that installs or drops other malware.

Executable files can be compressed with a packer that shrinks and possibly encrypts the original code. The packed executable decompresses and/or decrypts itself in memory while it is running, so the ...

self-encrypting virus

Internet; Internet security

Also known as an encrypted virus, a type of virus that attempts to conceal itself from anti-virus programs, most of which try to find viruses by looking for certain patterns of code (known as virus ...

encryption

Internet; Internet security

A change made to data, code, or a file so it must be processed, or decrypted, before a system can read or access it. Viruses may use encryption to hide their viral code in an attempt to escape ...

file allocation table (FAT)

Internet; Internet security

The File Allocation Table is the area of a disk that stores the list of files. Also, a formatting system for disk drives. Some malware deliberately overwrites the FAT on a disk to destroy data.

general test mail for unsolicited bulk email (GTUBE)

Internet; Internet security

A test to verify that anti-spam software is operating correctly.

virus

Internet; Internet security

A computer program file capable of attaching to disks or other files and replicating itself repeatedly, typically without user knowledge or permission. Some viruses attach to files, so when the ...