Malware Category Descriptions

Adware

Adware encompasses all software executables and plug-ins that direct users towards products for sale. Some adware applications have separate processes that run concurrently and monitor each other, ensuring that the modifications are permanent. Some variants enable themselves to run each time the machine is started. These programs may also change security settings making it impossible for users to make changes to their browser search options, desktop, and other system settings.

Browser Helper Object

A browser helper object is browser plug-in that may perform a variety of functions related to serving advertisements or hijacking user settings.

Commercial System Monitor

A commercial system monitor is a piece of software with system monitor characteristics that can be obtained with a legitimate license through legal means.

Dialer

A dialer is a program that utilizes your modem or another type of Internet access to connect you to a phone line or a site that causes you to accrue long distance charges to which you did not provide your full, meaningful, and informed consent.

Generic Spyware

Spyware is a type of malware installed on computers that collects small pieces of information about users without their knowledge.

Hijacker

A hijacker modifies system settings or any unwanted changes to a user’s system that may direct them to a website or run a program without a user’s full, meaningful, and informed consent.

Other Malware

This category is used to catch all other malware and suspicious behavior that does not exactly fit in one of the other defined categories.

Outbreak Heuristics

This category represents malware found by Adaptive Scanning independently of the other anti-malware engines.

Phishing URL

A phishing URL is displayed in the browser address bar. In some cases, it involves the use of domain names and resembles those of legitimate domains. Phishing is a form of online identity theft that employs both social engineering and technical subterfuge to steal personal identity data and financial account credentials.

PUA

Potentially Unwanted Application. A PUA is an application that is not malicious, but which may be considered to be undesirable.

System Monitor

A system monitor encompasses any software that performs one of the following actions:

Overtly or covertly records system processes and/or user action.

Makes those records available for retrieval and review at a later time.

Trojan Downloader

A trojan downloader is a Trojan that, after installation, contacts a remote host/site and installs packages or affiliates from the remote host. These installations usually occur without the user’s knowledge. Additionally, a Trojan Downloader’s payload may differ from installation to installation since it obtains downloading instructions from the remote host/site.

Trojan Horse

A trojan horse is a destructive program that masquerades as a benign application. Unlike viruses, Trojan horses do not replicate themselves.

Trojan Phisher

A trojan phisher may sit on an infected computer waiting for a specific web page to be visited or may scan the infected machine looking for user names and passphrases for bank sites, auction sites, or online payment sites.

Virus

A virus is a program or piece of code that is loaded onto your computer without your knowledge and runs against your wishes.

Worm

A worm is program or algorithm that replicates itself over a computer network and usually performs malicious actions.