Botnet
A network of remotely controlled systems used to coordinate attacks and distribute malware, spam, and phishing scams. Bots (short for “robots”) are programs that are covertly installed on a targeted system allowing an unauthorized user to remotely control the compromised computer for a variety of malicious purposes.
Pharming
A method used by phishers to deceive users into believing that they are communicating with a legitimate Web site. Pharming uses a variety of technical methods to redirect a user to a fraudulent or spoofed Web site when the user types a legitimate Web address.
Spoofing
Creating a fraudulent Web site to mimic an actual, well-known site run by another party. E-mail spoofing occurs when the sender address and other parts of an e-mail header are altered to appear as though the e-mail originated from a different source. Spoofing hides the origin of an e-mail message.
Phishing
A high-tech scam that frequently uses spam or pop-up messages to deceive people into disclosing sensitive information. Internet scammers use e-mail bait to “phish” for passwords and financial information from the sea of internet users.
Spamming
Sending unsolicited commercial e-mail advertising for products, services, and Web sites. Spam can also be sued as a delivery mechanism for malicious software and other cyber threats.
War-driving
A method of gaining entry into wireless computer networks using a laptop, antennas, and a wireless network adaptor that involves patrolling locations to gain unauthorized access.
War-dialing
Simple program that dial consecutive phone numbers looking for a modem.
Spyware
Malware installed without the user’s knowledge to surreptitiously track and/or transmit data to an unauthorized third party.
Worm
An independent computer program that reproduces by copying itself from one system to another across a network. Unlike computer viruses, worms do not require human involvement to propagate.
Virus
A program that “infects” computer files, usually executable programs, by inserting a copy of itself into the file. These copies are usually executed when the infected files is loaded into memory, allowing the virus to infect other files. Unlike the computer worms, a virus requires human involvement (usually unwitting) to propagate.
Trojan horse
A computer program that conceals harmful code. A Trojan horse usually masquerades as a useful program that a user would wish to execute.
Sniffer
Synonymous with packet sniffer. A program that intercepts routed data and examines each packet in search of specified information, such as passwords transmitted in clear text.
Logic bomb
A form of sabotage in which a programmer inserts code that causes the program to perform a destructive action when some triggering even occurs, such as terminating the programmer’s employment.
Exploit tools
Publicly available and sophisticated tools that intruders of various skill levels can use to determine vulnerabilities and gain entry into targeted systems.
Distributed denial of service
A variant of the denial-of-service attack that uses a coordinated attack from a distributed system of computers rather than a single source. It often makes use of worms to spread to multiple computers that can then attack the target.
Denial of service
A method of attack that denies system access to legitimate users without actually having to compromise the targeted system. From a single source, the attack overwhelms the target computers with messages and blocks legitimate traffic. It can prevent one system from being able to exchange data with other systems or prevent the system from using the Internet.
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