Ex-First Lady Becomes An Objective of Spyware Scheme

Even the former First Lady, who is accompanied around-the-clock by a detail of Secret Service Men, is not safe from dangerous malware. Hard to imagine, isn�t it? One would think Mrs. Clinton�s staff would be up on the latest computer technology and be able to avoid the annoying, destructive malware. It�s more than a bit scary, if the Senator from New York and her staff can�t avoid malware, how can the rest of us expect to?

Doug Bowers of Symantec (internet security software giant) reported they had expected something like this to happen due to the large numbers who have following the presidential race closely. His expectations were on target; Hillary Clinton and Ron Paul (both presidential candidates) have both been targeted by malware scams.

Many computer users don�t know what malware is; even the media uses the term incorrectly on a regular basis. Some describe malware as a computer virus, it isn�t. Malware is a computer program or code that was developed strictly to interfere with computers around the world. Malware interferes by many means; adware, spyware, Trojan horses, rootkits and viruses are all found in malware. Some malware installs viruses that completely delete the user�s files; often, this can go undiscovered for a short while. The most dangerous computer viruses will slow the computer down, shut-it down and/or cause irreparable damage.

Perhaps it is easiest to understand how malware operates by following the process in the Hillary Clinton email. Millions of in-boxes received the email and many people opened it � they had no reason to suspect it was malware. That�s the really dangerous thing about malware; it operates totally �undercover� and without your consent.

Once opened, the email contained a link to a page set up to look like a Google search page. It was not affiliated with Google in any way; instead, it was the way malware was able to install itself onto the operating systems. Once in place, the malware scam is free to install spyware, adware, viruses, worms and rootkits. Some viruses are so dangerous they can cause moderate to severe damage to your computer.

Now in place, the malware scam is in full-swing. The computer owner will be inundated with massive amounts of unwanted spam, including pop-up ads by the dozen. At the very least, this bombardment will be irritating. At worst, the computer may be slowed down, shut-off or severely damaged.

Even Norton and other sophisticated internet security systems cannot guarantee absolute protection. The closest you can come to fool-proof protection is to open emails only from people/addresses with which you are completely familiar and comfortable.