Assignment #1

What is malware?

From Wikipedia (Yes, I know your English teacher would frown on this!):

Malware, short for malicious software, is software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner's informed consent. The expression is a general term used by computer professionals to mean a variety of forms of hostile, intrusive, or annoying software or program code. The term "computer virus" is sometimes used as a catch-all phrase to include all types of malware, including true viruses.

Everyone loves a video!

If a picture is worth a thousand words, is a video worth ten-thousand? 

Watch this video:

Worst hacks of 2018 from CNET

Here is the problem

You have probably all heard of computer viruses and know they are bad BUT do you really know what kind of bad things they can do and even more importantly how you get them? In this assignment you will investigate one sources of malware, so you can better protect yourself.

Open the Google Sheet in Google Classroom under Assignment #1. Select a type of malware that no body else has selected and enter in your name and that type of malware. It is now reserved for you. 

(need help selection, this might help)

You must do the following:

1. Define what the particular malware is.

2. How can you get it?

3. What it can do to your computer?

4. How do you prevent it from happening?

5. Provide at least two (2) sources in bibliographic format.

Here is an example of what I am looking for

• I have done Clickjacking as an example for you (see below: ↓)

• you can not select Clickjacking as the type you would like to do now

Things to note

• If you are not sure on any part of the problem, just ask me and I will give you additional information.

• More important than the information, a main focus of this assignment is to give you practice in following instructions EXACTLY. One of the main stumbling blocks students have when starting programming is to remember computers only follow the exact instructions you give them, so being very precise is important.

• Remember, you must have at least 2 cited references for your type of malware.

  • Place the citation at the bottom.

  • Here is a guide to help you format your bibliography correctly (It is the same one you use in English class!)

• You must pick one type of malware and sign up for it on the Google Spreadsheet that was shared with you in the assignment folder. You need to pick a type that no one else in the class has chosen. If you have any questions, just ask me. Remember DON'T wait until it is due!

• Make sure you submit it  Weekly Assignment #1 before the due date and time. It will automatically not let you submit assignments after the due date!

Extra

• Read the following presentation (see below: ↓)

  • presentation from here

• answer the following questions:

• 1. What is a front door attack? What are some examples?

  2. What is a back door attack? What are some examples?

  3. Give some examples of what malware tries to accomplish.

  4. Describe ways that whitehat hackers try to make systems more secure.

  5. Describe things you can do to secure your computer against attack.