Malware is still a fairly unfamiliar word to many computer software end users. Put simply, the term refers to software that is created to harm the host computer or to carry out unauthorized installations and procedures without the user?s consent.

Specific examples of malware include spyware and adware, both of which operate by conducting unauthorized operations on a computer. Though malware and computer viruses are different, they are both specifically designed to cause harm to the host computer, as opposed to a legitimate program that you yourself install which does not execute properly. Malware programs are more commonly spread through end user installations, such as peer to peer applications, than through installations from purchased software. Malware most frequently finds its way onto your computer through Trojan horses and rootkits.

Trojan horses,are just as they sound, they are harmful installations that are hidden by seemingly harmless installations. While running these installations seems safe, what the user does not know is that malware is also secretly installing itself at the same time. In order for malware to continue to work, it needs to stay hidden and that is where Rookits come in. Rootkits Make sure that the malware installed on your computer stays completely undetectable, and that it does not show up in your list of system processes.

Once installed, advanced rootkits are tough to get rid of. This is because many malware programs create ‘ghost’ versions of themselves, and whenever the original malware program detects that one of these ghosts has been deleted or deactivated, it quickly responds by replicating the deleted or deactivated files. Also, because the rootkit conceals the actual malware program from your system, whatever defenses your system may have continue going after the ghosts. Thus, the system is stuck chasing down one ghost decoy after another, while the actual malware itself remains untouched.

Some of the commonly known malware installations include Blaster, Sasser, and Mydoom. Another kind of unauthorized and harmful software that is similar to malware has been termed grayware. Unlike malware, grayware is not harmful, and is usually just very very irritating. Grayware is basically just an annoying software that really works to bug you more than to harm your computer, it installs things like unauthorized joke programs and ads in order to accomplish this goal.

These can be quite tiresome and are usually as difficult to get rid of as malware, and therefore are classified along with it. Not only can this software compromise your computers safety, but it can also leave you more vulnerable to other damaging installations. Grayware and malware can also get into your system through codes that are unauthorized by things you plug into your USB ports.

Since it is virtually impossible to keep your system free of malware, you should routinely check for it by using a reputable anti-malware system, such as Microsoft’s Malicious Software Removal Tool. This program — compatible with Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003 — can both identify the specific malware installations on your system and assist you in removing them.