Overview

  • Attendance
  • Malware Presentation
    • What is Malware?
    • Types of Malware
    • Viruses
    • Worms
    • Ransomware
    • Brief History of Antivirus
    • How is Malware Made?
    • How to Protect Yourself
  • Next Week

Attendance

  • Abu Shettima
  • Christian Beatty
  • Christian Messmer
  • Jeremiah Neff
  • Jonathan Buckel
  • Lavender Wilson
  • Matthew Williams
  • Paul Shriner
  • Seth Morgan
  • Zach Teixido
  • Zullikha Hassan

Malware Presentation

What is Malware?

Malware stands for “malicious software”, and refers to any software that is harmful or intrusive. Malware:

  • Has been around since the beginning of computing
  • Early malware had a style reminiscent of the demoscene
  • Has evolved with computing
    • (started with copying via disks, now often travel through the internet)

Types of Malware

  • Virus: Code that copies itself into other files and programs, allowing it to spread
  • Worm: Similar to a virus, but can spread without the need of a human to enable it.
  • Ransomware: Software that encrypts your data and demands payment as a ransom
  • Adware: Displays unwanted advertisements
  • Spyware: Gathers information about the user unknowingly
  • Rootkit: Hides the existence of malware in a system

People tend to assume that malware will always destroy your computer; while they can, generally they pursue more nefarious means (such as stealing data or holding a system for ransom).

Viruses

  • Creeper
    • First ever computer virus
    • Created as a proof of concept
  • Elk Cloner, Brain
    • First viruses to get out into the wild

Viruses can be as creative as they are destructive. Viruses are not as popular now, mainly because security has gotten much better.

Worms

  • ILOVEYOU (2000)
    • You would get an email with the subject “ILOVEYOU,” and an attachment with a supposed love letter
  • Code Red (2001)
    • Specifically targeted systems running IIS for Windows Server
  • Blaster (2003)
    • Exploited a known vulnerability in Windows 2000 and XP
    • Millions were affected, including government services
    • Buffer overflow would cause the system to reboot every so often
    • Worms such as Sasser and Blaster showed how unsecure Windows was then

Ransomware

  • WannaCry (2017)
    • Used an exploit called EternalBlue to get into Windows computers
    • Encrypts files and demands Bitcoin payment

Brief History of Antivirus

  • Reaper
    • First antivirus
    • Designed to remove Creeper
  • McAfee VirusScan
    • First widespread antivirus
    • Created in 1987 by John McAfee
  • Several antivirus solutions have since came out from ESET, Avast, Kaspersky, Norton, and more
  • Some antivirus solutions are worse than the malware they prevent

How is Malware Made?

  • It’s just computer code, except that it’s malicious
  • It must be able to succeed and spread

How to Protect Yourself

  • Keep your software up to date
  • Make sure you have an antivirus and firewall
  • Practice safe habits (eg. be suspicious of files)
    • uBlock Origin (ad and tracker blocker) is useful on web browsers

Next Week

We’ll be doing a presentation about code documentation next week, same day and time as usual.