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Ex-First Lady Hilliary Clinton Becomes A Target of Malware Con

Surprisingly, even the Former First Lady could not steer clear of a malware scam. �Round the clock security, a professional IT staff, the latest technology and software security were not enough to protect Senator Hillary Clinton�s campaign from this malicious intruder. Beginning in February, 2008, supporters and constituents of the Senator from New York began receiving emails entitled �Hillary Clinton Full Video�. The emails contained no video footage of Mrs. Clinton; it contained malware instead.

Malware is a combination of two words --- malicious and software. And, in this case, the name says it all. Malware is computer software or a computer code that is installed onto the computers of unknowing and unsuspecting computer users. Some people refer to malware as a computer virus; that is not accurate, actually. While malware can contain computer viruses, it may also contain other intrusive components like adware, spyware and spam.

Most people think if they have taken the precaution of installing security software that they are safe from malware scams. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Even some the of most popular internet security suites, like Norton or Spyware Doctor, can�t protect your computer from some malware. The malware scam that was affixed to the Clinton email was attached to a Trojan horse (or Trojan) like many are.

Malware is computer software specifically designed to infiltrate a computer without the knowledge or consent of the computer owner. Malware is a broad term which can include adware, spyware, Trojan horses, worms and rootkits. The word �malware� is actually a combination of the words malicious and software. Generally speaking, malware is annoying and intrusive software or program code. In 2008, Symantec reported �the release rate of malicious code and other unwanted programs may be exceeding that of legitimate software applications�. According to the experts at F-Secure, �More malware was produced during 2007 than was produced in the previous 20 years combined�. It�s no wonder that many of us have encountered malware and may continue to do so.

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.

Both Norton Internet Security and Spyware Doctors are popular, prevent malware and well worth the investment. Another way you can protect your computer and files is to exercise caution when opening and reading email. The best advice we can offer is to open ONLY email that you know to be safe � those emails that come from known sources.

Article Source: http://www.dummiesguideto.com

Isaiah Henry is a remove spyware reviewer for RemoveSpywareandAdware.com, which gives PC users free tips, comparisons and reviews on antispyware services. You can visit us on how to remove spyware for detail info.

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