QUESTIONS What does an SMTP server do What

QUESTIONS What does an SMTP server do? What is Malware? If your computer is a “zombie”, what does that mean?

SPAM

WHAT IS SPAM? Unsolicited junk email. (Emails that you do not want / did not ask for) Typically harmless but always annoying. Spam is the electronic equivalent of junk mail. Spam can be dangerous (Links to websites > cookies)

SPAM METHODS (IN THE SYLLABUS): SMTP session hijacking. That’s it…

SMTP SESSION HIJACKING SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) Gaining access to lists of e-mail addresses with thousands of users. The spam redirects to official SMTP servers like Google’s servers, making it seem legitimate, and leaving the actual sender of the spam difficult to trace.

RANDOM FACTS An e-mail bomb is usually a personal attack. Someone sends you the same e-mail hundreds or thousands of times until your e-mail system cannot accept any more messages.

Worms • • • Worms are Malware. They aim to spread themselves. They can have a “payload”. An infected computer is called a “zombie”. Most worms will install a backdoor. They can sit undetected until the programmer commands the zombies to do something. • Can do anything, from deleting files, to copying your passwords.

Some History • Robert Morris from Cornell. • Spread to 10% of computers on the internet. • Program was bugged. • Caused computers to crash. • Morris was expelled and prosecuted.

Protection • Keep your anti-virus up to date and run regular scans. • Install windows updates.

Questions • What does an SMTP server do? • What is Malware? • If your computer is a “zombie”, what does that mean?