| W2M.Family.Variant | Word 2 Macro Virus (viruses which infect Word 2 documents) |
| W97M.Family.Variant | Word 97 Macro Virus (virus which infects Word 97 documents) |
| WAP - Wireless Access Protocol | An open and global standard that allows wireless devices, such as mobile phones, to access and interact with information and services,especially the Internet. It features a micro Web browser that displays and transmits specially formatted pages. |
| War dialer | Software designed to dial wide segments of telephone numbers, and detect which ones are modem access lines. Used to detect dial-in phone numbers.
Such products have both legitimate and illegitimate uses. |
| Warez | The slang name for pirated software (a corruption of "softwares") used by those who obtain and circulate pirated software for pleasure or profit. Used mostly in the US. |
| Warspamming | A term used to describe a potential method of generating vast amounts of anonymous spam. It particularly applies to the use of a third party's mail server hacked via an insecure wireless network. If the hacker can gain access the mail server, it could be used to relay spam with no chance of the true originator ever being traced (unless caught in the act). |
| WBS.Family.Variant | WinBatch Script Virus (virus for WinBatch script) |
| WHOIS | A TCP/IP utility that lets you query compatible servers for detailed information about other Internet users. |
| WiFi | WiFi is a brand name controlled by the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA). It confirms conformance to the IEEE 802.11b standard for wireless LANs, and ensures interoperability between all WiFi wireless LANs.
WiFi includes basic security features for authentication and privacy.
Privacy
WiFi's privacy is based on WEP (wired equivalent privacy) encryption. It cannot be considered secure.
Authentication
There are three ways (two 'official' and one 'unofficial') in which access control is provided. Firstly, each node in the standard 802.11 network uses a network name referred to as the Service Set IDentifier, or SSID. Users can be required to enter a combination of the SSID and a password before being granted access. Unfortunately, this can be easily sniffed and identified by drive-by hackers.
The unofficial method is similar in concept, but uses the unique Media Access Control (MAC) identifier that is part of every Ethernet device. Many WLANs can store lists of the MACs as access control lists within the APs (Access Points). But they are never encrypted, cannot be changed, and are easily sniffed.
The third approach is good old WEP again. It can be configured to require either a 40 bit or 128 bit key. However the same key is used for all devices, and, in the case of laptops, is stored on the laptop. This means that if any device is compromised (a laptop lost or stolen?), then the access password must be changed on ALL of the devices. Needless to say, WEP does not provide any management functions to make this any easier.
802.11b is not secure and will be replaced probably by a combination of 802.1x for authentication and a new AES algorithm for encryption. |
| WildList, The ("in the wild") | What is The WildList... ?
Over the years, antivirus expert Joe Wells has collected reports of which viruses have been found spreading in the real world. He decided to create a list of these viruses and make that list available to the public, free of charge, to offset some of the 'numbers games' played by some antivirus product developers.
The list was 'The WildList'. From its humble beginnings in Joe's garage, The WildList has grown into the world's authority on which viruses users should really be concerned with. Used as a basis for testing antivirus software by proficient and competent testing authorities, The Wildlist remains available free to computer users worldwide.
The list is created each month by a team of volunteers, using reports from over 55 antivirus researchers and corporations world-wide.
Now, a dynamic WildList is scheduled to go online. Here, reports of viruses spreading In the Wild will also available on any given day.
On the 15th day of each month, the formal WildList is extracted from all verified reports, and published at http://www.wildlist.org. Archives of past WildLists are available in the archive.
What exactly is 'In the Wild'?
When a virus is reported to us by two or more Reporters, it's a pretty good indication that the virus is out there, spreading, causing real problems to users. We consider such a virus to be 'In the Wild'.
As far as where is 'out there', we like the definition given by Paul Ducklin of Sophos, PLC in his paper 'Counting Viruses':
For a virus to be considered In the Wild, it must be spreading as a result of normal day-to-day operations on and between the computers of unsuspecting users.
This means viruses which merely exist but are not spreading are not considered 'In the Wild'.
from The WildList Organization International FAQ
http://www.wildlist.org/faq.htm |
| Win2K.Family.Variant | Windows 2000 Virus (virus for PE executables, works on Win2K) |
| WM.Family.Variant | Word 6 Macro Virus (virus which infects Word 6 documents) |
| Worm | A computer program that replicates itself and is self-propagating. Worms, as opposed to viruses, are meant to spawn in network environments. Network worms were first defined by Shoch & Hupp of Xerox in ACM Communications (March 1982).
Worms are similar to viruses, and are often discussed in the same terms, but differ in one major way. Worms are self-contained programs - they do not need to, and do not, infect other applications. But they self-replicate (like viruses) by copying themselves to other systems; and they can carry a payload that can be benign or destructive, just like viruses.
One of the most common 'payloads' is a backdoor or remote administration tool. A backdoor is simply that; a hidden entry for remote hackers. Once installed, the hacker can come and go at will. Backdoors are often used by spammers. This passes the cost on to you, while simultaneously hiding the true location of the spammer.
Anther typical payload could be a zombie. This term can be used to describe an implanted process running in background, or the infected machine itself. Under the control of a remote hacker, zombies are used to launch simultaneous attacks against a particular target company or website. Since it could be thousands of zombies attacking at the same pre-ordained time, the effect can be devastating.
One danger in both examples is that since it is your machine, and you are responsible for your machine, it is possible that you could be held liable. It is important, therefore, that you take all steps possible to avoid receiving, or eliminate received, worms. |
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