Just when you think that the malicious virus authors have slowed, they go and invent something new to do poorly everywhere computer users. One of the more recent forms of virus is called a "rootkit" and it is here to make your miserable day.
One thing that is easier to answer over the years viruses was their visibility. Executables that contains the virus usually have names that are different from standard programs on computer systems, so that they are easy to identify. When the virus renames the standard file and replaces it with the virus, new often has a different date or was of a different size and they appear in the list of task manager of Windows programs. This makes it fairly easy to identify by you or your anti-virus software.
Rootkits are much more dangerous than other types of infections by virus simply because they can easily hide these malicious files, making them more difficult to find two anti-virus software programs, and the individual user.
Rootkits actually begins with Sony in November 2005, when they began to use rootkits on some CD as a means of hiding of protection against copying of music files. Never inventors, hackers began transforming this technology into something to cause harm. Any file that started with '$ sys$ "was invisible, so hackers named their malicious software of ways to take advantage of this gap."
It becomes as easy as passing along any other viruses distributing these rootkits. Rootkits have been distributed through downloads of spyware programs that are initiated when you click the ads, downloading free software, and by the opening of attachments. One click is all that need to start the damage.
Some of these rootkits even found their way in the boot sector of hard disks. This means that the technique that many of us use reboot our computers to clean up the memory is more effective. These rootkits will restart simply whenever the operating system restarts itself.
And unfortunately many automated virus scanning programs or antivirus software programs, are implemented to analyze regular programs only and not the boot sector. In the early days of boot virus virus sectors were common (because of infections based disk) so that the antivirus programs may protect against them. And then we stopped fitting the drives for computers and the need for protection of boot sector went.
Once rootkits are hidden in the boot sectors, it is possible to make program which controls most of the basic computer functions and can control specific parts of the hardware itself.
This makes it almost impossible to install a software that can combat the rootkit. Really, there is nothing that the virus cannot do; It can hide its workings of any application which is responsible to check for virus applications. It can even hide its efforts as a high level of the operating system of the computer.
If your computer starts running funny, you might step suspect a rootkit, but rather assume that Windows is odd as it does from time to time. Very few of us will be paid enough to suspect that a rootkit is, in fact, the cause of the problems. If you think that your system may be infected with a rootkit and then Google rootkit removers and you must find something to help you resolve the problem. AVG is an example of a free antiviru program that may help you identify and remove rootkits.
If you think your PC may be infected by a rootkit, it is time to install a computer virus removal software. and let a full analysis of all the files on your PC. Otherwise, you are taking huge risks with your personal and financial information. Get equipped with anti-virus software now @ http://www.cpusecurity.com