A school's computer lab has been infected with malicious software that is…
A school's computer lab has been infected with malicious software that is damaging files, stealing data, and slowing down all systems. The IT administrator must identify and explain these threats.
(a) What are Common Information Security Threats? How does knowing about threats help protect systems?
(b) What is Malware? Why is it considered particularly dangerous for computer systems?
(c) A virus is found attached to a downloaded song file in the lab. Explain how Virus Malware works and list any four types of viruses.
(d) Some systems show unusual slowdowns without any visible infection. Which malware type could cause this, and how does it spread?
Attempted by 2 students.
Show answer & explanation
(a) Common Information Security Threats
There are many different risks that can harm data and systems. Knowing about these threats helps protect systems better by enabling proactive security measures. Common threats include malware, hacking, human error, software failure, spyware, cyber attacks, and password cracking — all of which can severely compromise data security.
(b) Malware — Definition & Danger
Malware (short for malicious software) is a file or code, typically delivered over a network, that infects, explores, steals, or conducts virtually any behavior an attacker wants. It is dangerous because it comes in numerous variants, each with different methods of infecting systems — making detection and prevention extremely challenging for organizations.
(c) Virus Malware — Working & Types
Virus Malware consists of programs that copy themselves throughout a computer or network. They piggyback on existing programs and can only be activated when a user opens the infected program.
At their worst, viruses can:
Corrupt or delete data
Use the user's email to spread further
Erase everything on a hard disk
Four Types of Viruses:
Overwrite Virus — Overwrites file content
Macro Virus — Targets document macros
Polymorphic Virus — Changes form to avoid detection
Boot Sector Virus — Infects system boot area
(d) Worm Malware
Worm Malware causes system slowdowns without visible infection. Worms are self-replicating and exploit security vulnerabilities to spread automatically across computers and networks. Unlike viruses, they do not attach to programs or alter files — they go unnoticed until replication consumes significant system resources or network bandwidth.