How spams and viruses spread?

Question

Can anyone educate me on how adware, malware, spams and viruses like the ILOVEYOU virus are spread through the e-mail? Honestly, I want to find ways to tackle them. How come ILOVEYOU can infect the computer just by opening the mail? Please give me some very good links if you know any. Thanks.

Answer 1

Some Ways That Viruses Can Be Transmitted And Spread

E-Mail Attachments: Email attachments are the most common way that ill intentioned people transmit viruses in order to infect computer users. Therefore, you should always apply caution when opening any E-Mail attachments received, especially from people who you do not know. These types of viruses are usually triggered when the attached file is opened or executed. Some viruses can even trigger themselves just by simply viewing the infected E-Mail although this is not that common. Therefore, ensure that the Anti-Virus Software you are using is set to monitor your E-Mail Program that you send and receive E-Mail with. Today’s modern software programs are usually set by default to do this.

Network Shared Resources: Many viruses and worms will try to duplicate themselves by finding security loop holes in a network in order to attach themselves to a shared network resource. The most vulnerable network resource are file folders, which are shared amongst users as file access permissions are being granted. When a Virus identifies a shared folder it will attempt to copy itself into it in order to infect that Computer itself and then all computers that access the shared folder. A Worm will basically just try to replicate itself. However, it is possible to limit this risk by setting access permissions for the shared folder. If your network is set up with any shared folders, then you should have your network administrator take the appropriate action to secure them.

Removable Media: Removable Media such as Floppy Disks, Re-Writable Compact and DVD Disks, Zip Disks, USB Memory and Flash Drive are often exchanged and used from one machine to another, especially in an office. Therefore, be sure to frequently scan these removable devices to prevent infection. Today’s modern Anti-Virus software will contain a built in feature where you can simply right-click on the Removal Device itself within My Computer or Windows Explorer and then choose a menu option to scan that device. In other words, if you want to scan a floppy disk, then right-click on the A: Drive within Windows Explorer and then choose a selection on the order of Scan for Viruses.

Internet Downloads: Any material downloaded from the Internet, whether they are programs, documents, music files, video files and compressed files etc., could potentially contain a virus. Therefore, be sure to scan these files first with your Anti-Virus software before you launch them. Today’s modern Anti-Virus software will usually be set to scan these downloaded files for you or at least prompt you with a reminder to do so. If not then do it manually.

Document Files: Many documents and spreadsheets can contain useful macros that perform certain tasks automatically for you. However, macro viruses also exist and they use the functionality of macros to spread themselves to other files and can make alterations to the files infected.

What You Can Do To Protect Yourself

Install Anti-Virus Software and Update it Daily! Always leave it Functioning and Enabled!

Make sure your Anti-Virus Software is set to monitor your E-Mail Program that you send and receive E-Mail with!

Do not temporarily disable your Anti-Virus Software as it is too easy to forget to re-enable it!

Always keep your computer updated with the latest Security Patches! Microsoft releases them frequently as infected E-Mail Attachments may attempt to exploit program vulnerabilities.

Do not open attachments unless you are absolutely certain of the sender and the contents!

Answer 2

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Answer 3

The answers so far explain the way these thing spread but none of the answers tells you the reason why: The Operating Systems allows it.
We pay $200 or more for a program called Microsoft Windows, this program is not secure and allow these virusus to attack it. Don't complain if you get attacked by a virus because you knew ahead of time the Windows could not stop it.

Answer 4

Email spam viruses spread buy looking at your address book contacts and emailing them. Spammers also harvest emails from websites and FWDS when you see everybody the FWD was sent to.
Use BCC. Stay safe. Dont do drugs.

Adware, spyware etc spread by you downloading some software that looks safe but actually installs spyware in the background. They can also download themselves from your browser if it is not secure.

Answer 5

It spread by looking at the infected computer's e-mail address book which you stored/saved and start sending non-stop emails to other computers.

Answer 6

I try and report on every individual answers, but it's a pain sometimes. There's no way of reporting on a user that I know of, just individual questions and answers. Once you become a top reporter, Yahoo! takes action a lot faster.

Answer 7

How did I get infected?, With steps so it does not happen again!
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic2520.html

What is Spyware?
Understanding Spyware, Browser Hijackers, and Dialers.
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial41.html

Understanding malware
http://securitynewsfromthenet.blogspot.com/2007/03/understanding-malware.html


How to deal with Spam
http://spywarekiller.hyperboards.com/index.php?action=view_topic&topic_id=26