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Glossary  

This glossary contains many of the terms you will find throughout the SpywareRemove.com website.

B

Backdoor
(also called a trapdoor) a Remote Control Software which allows a third-party (the attacker) to gain access and control of a victim’s computer. Backdoors, considered to be Trojans, can bypass security mechanisms. Backdoors are a security risk because they can gain personal information or use a victim’s computer to attack a server.

Banner
Information that is displayed when you connect to a remote system.

Banner ad
Advertisement that is placed at the top of a Web page.

Batch file
A sequence, or batch, of commands performed by a file containing DOS commands. A batch files ends with a .bat extension and is compatible with DOS, Win9x, WinNT, Win2000, Windows XP. Batch files serve as a way to reduce the repetitive typing needed by the user to start programs and to not have to remember every single command to perform a task.

BHO
See also browser helper objects.

Blacklist
The list of e-mail addresses you believe that send spam messages and are from spam providers.

Blended threat
A virus or worm that employs multiple infection methods. For example, the threat can infect files, may implement Trojan behavior and spread on its own.

Boot disk
A disk containing specific files which activate at startup of the computer. Boot disks differ according to the operating system. Boot disks can take the form of a standard floppy boot disk, emergency boot disk, or bootable CD. To remove viruses effectively, antivirus programs use a boot disk to access the hard drive and perform cleanups on the computer. Unused boot disk prevent antivirus programs from tracing and removing viruses from the computer.

Boot records
The area in floppy disks and hard drives that contains the instructions necessary to start up a computer. Viruses usually infect the boot records and change the data incorporating a copy of themselves. As soon as a user starts the PC, the virus installs itself in memory before loading the operating system.

Boot sector infector
A virus that corrupts the original boot sector on a diskette. When the computer tries to carry out the program in the boot sector, the virus loads into memory where it can gain control over basic computer operations. Boot sector infectors are dangerous because they spread quickly and efficiently.

Bot
Is a program which performs repetitive roles such as search and check of information and preserving traffic over the network. Bots are not necessarily harmful but attackers can use it to install malware or pop ups on your computer, spread machine lists and organize robots assaults on DDOS.

Botnet
(short for “robot network”) A network of zombie computers, possibly consisting of tens or thousands of zombie computers, which can automatically send out spam messages. From a single computer, a botnet can send thousands of spam messages in one day.

Bps
Bits per second (bps or bit/sec). This is a common measure of data speed for computer connection, used for computer modems or transmission carriers. Bps means speed is equal to the number of bits sent or received each second.

Broadcast address
Is an IP address which sends the message to all machines on a local subnetwork.

Browser helper objects
Browser helper object is a .DLL file that once installed may modify the settings of Internet Explore and may change its usual behavior. For example, a browser helper object may add toolbars, menu items. Additionally, it may also monitor incoming and outgoing traffic.

Browser hijackers
Browser hijacker is an application that has an ability to replace user’s Home page, Search page, Error page, etc.

Brute force
A method used to reveal passwords or encryption keys by trying every possible combination of characters until it breaks the code.

Buffer overflow attack, buffer overflow exploit
A method of overflowing or overloading a specific amount of space in a buffer. In a buffer overflow attack, attackers can insert their own code into a victim’s machine. Buffer overflow attacks are the most malicious form of attack.

Buffer overflow condition
Condition in an application that delivers more data than the application can handle. Providing an overflow of data can result in a corrupt memory.

Bug
An error, failure, or defect in a software or hardware program that prevents it from working properly or causes a false result.

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