Computers are rife with malware (see below for definitions of this and related terms). Live Web servers, corporate servers, desktop computers and home office systems are all susceptible to the cunning and stealth of those who take advantage of back doors and security holes. Whilst not always destructive, malware always wants something it shouldn't have, be it access to sensitive data such as passwords or the use of the facilities of the host computer, for example disk space and Internet bandwidth.
Malware often sits undetected on systems that do not have the toolsets in place to spot them. In fact most of the current toolsets are ill-equipped to even observe the presence of the latest transparent breed of the enemy. Malware has a proclivity to literally "vanish" as soon as it is installed, thanks to very devious low-level techniques employed by those who construct it.
With his familiarity with the low-level operations of the Windows platforms, Brian Long is ideally suited to locate, identify and then eliminate even the stealthiest of hacker software. Brian is adept at the disposal of adware and spyware, along with invisible malware.
A client recently experienced unexpected TCP/IP activity on a live Web server with no trace of anything else out of the ordinary observable on the system. With the only machine access provided through Windows XP Remote Desktop, Brian proceeded to lure the malware into announcing itself, and was then able to de-cloak it and successfully cleanse it from the system.
If you suspect malicious software is on your system, if you know it is there but cannot find it, or if you want your system checked to be sure, Brian Long can provide what you need. It can be a lot less painful and a lot less costly than wiping a system and setting it up from scratch.
| Term | Abbreviation Of | Definition |
| Adware | Advertisement software |
Software that provides tailored advertising, typically in the form of browser popups
and sometimes in additional search toolbars, hijacked home pages, butchered TCP/IP
host definition file and so on. Adware is typically installed through the installation of other software, such as peer to peer file sharing software. Whilst almost always undesirable, the license agreement that most people skip at the start of installation will usually mention that additional software that is "designed to enhance your online experience", or similar nonsense, is being installed. Consequently adware is often installed legitimately in this way. |
| Spyware | Spy software |
Software that gets installed on a system and transmits information to a remote site
via the Internet connection without the user's knowledge. This typically includes
information on sites browsed, the machine's IP address and system information. Spyware is typically installed through the installation of other software, such as peer to peer file sharing software. Whilst almost always undesirable, the license agreement that most people skip at the start of installation will usually mention that additional software that tracks file and web site usage is being installed. Consequently spyware is often installed legitimately in this way. |
| Malware | Malicious software | Other than the well known form of malicious software, such as the virus or trojan horse, malware is commonly installed onto systems through backdoors opened through Windows security loopholes and exploits. It will often use additional software to disappear completely from view (from the Windows registry, file system and Task Manager) and typically uses the host computer's facilities, such as network bandwidth and disk space, for its own benefit. |
| Hackware | Hacker Software | A collective term for all this type of stealth-oriented software, that gets installed using clever, complicated, or downright underhand techniques. |