Common Internet Safety Terms
Daniel Whiteley
Saftey Terms
Mousetrapping Commonly used by pornographic sites, this technique keeps visitors from leaving a website by locking them into a window, opening multiple windows on the desktop, or re-launching their website in a winder that can't be closed.
Spyware A type of malware that collects information about users without their knowledge, often to track browsing habits and to create pop-up advertisements.
Clickjacking A technique that tricks users into clicking on a malicious link by adding the link to a transparent layer over what appears to be a legitimate web page.
Browser Hijacking Occurs when Malware or Spyware replaces your browser's home page with its own in order to force more hits to a particular website.
Hoax A email chain letter that warns of impending viruses and tries to scare users into forwarding and continuing the hoax email.
Malware An intentionally malicious software or code that is designed to damage your computer or collect information without your knowledge, this also sometimes includes adware and freeware.
Virus A self replicating software program that is designed to infect a computer by rapidly spreading from one file to another causing great harm.
A technique used to redirect a legitimate website's traffic to another illegitimate website.
Pharming A technique used to redirect a legitimate website's traffic to another illegitimate website.
Trojan Horse A malware that appears to be benign or desirable and thus tricks the user into allowing the program access to their computer.
Spam Unsolicited email or junk mail.
Phishing A mail or instant message scam that is disguised to look like official communication from a legitimate website.