Viruses & Malware 101

Students learn what types of malicious software there are, how to tell if their computer is infected, and what they can do to protect their computer from viruses and spyware.

• 
  Know how to identify signs a computer may be infected with malicious software
  
• 
  Be able to protect their computer using antivirus and antispyware software
  
• 
  Understand what viruses, spyware, and Trojans are
  
• 
  Know how to avoid inadvertently downloading malicious software
  
• 
  Know how to use Antivirus software
  

(30 min, at a minimum, prior to student arrival)

• 
  get in early to test for technology failure, because it will happen :-)
  

• 
  pre-sign into accounts
  
• 
  pre-load videos or web demos
  
  • 
    http://www.commoncraft.com/video/computer-viruses-and-threats
    
• 
  Load antivirus and spyware download sites
  
  • 
    Avast! (http://www.avast.com/en-us/index)
    
• 
  print handouts
  

Basic familiarity with computers, the internet, and mouse control.

The lesson is completed in one (90) minute class session.

• 
  Introduce instructor, students.
  
  • 
    Ask students at introduction: Have you ever had a computer act strangely? Have you ever had a virus before?
    
• 
  Let students know it is okay to take phone calls, but ask them to put their phone on vibrate and answer calls outside the classroom.
  
• 
  Inform students that they can sit back and watch if the class is too advanced.
  
• 
  Inform students they can go to the bathroom, they don’t need permission.
  
• 
  Show order in which class will happen. Explain scope of class.
  

• 
  (20) Malware and how to beat it
  
  • 
    Malware
    
    • 
      Explanation
      
      • 
        Malware is the general term for malicious software. This can include things like viruses, worms, spyware, and hostage ware. The technical differences between them all aren’t that important to know, just how to stop them.
        
      • 
        Malware can do a lot of damage:
        
        • 
          Erase files
          
        • 
          Deny access to files
          
        • 
          Create popups
          
        • 
          Track keystrokes
          
        • 
          Turn computer into spam email server
          
        • 
          Disable computer completely
          
      • 
        Malware can be spread through:
        
        • 
          Email attachments
          
        • 
          USB drives
          
        • 
          Programs downloaded off the internet
          
        • 
          Hackers exploiting vulnerabilities in programs running on your computer
          
    • 
      Activity: Show video
      
      • 
        Show video Computer Viruses and threats (http://www.commoncraft.com/video/computer-viruses-and-threats)
        
  • 
    Signs your computer may be infected
    
    • 
      Discussion: What are the signs you should look for to see if your computer has been infected?
      
      • 
        Your computer may slow down.
        
      • 
        You are bombarded with popups or warnings that your computer may be infected from a program you didn’t install.
        
      • 
        New icons or wallpaper or toolbars show up.
        
      • 
        Your default homepage or search engine starts redirecting to another site.
        
      • 
        Files deleted or missing.
        
      • 
        Updates and/or certain programs are disabled.
        
      • 
        Your computer won’t start up (this is most likely hardware related).
        
  • 
    Good practices to avoid infecting your computer
    
    • 
      
      
      Download 76,81 Kb.