Due date: Wednesday, March 14

Submit your report on hard copy, 8 1/2" x 11" paper. It should be basically in your own words, although it is acceptable to cut & paste pictures and tables.

In this project, and in all of your projects for this course, write for an audience that consists mainly of non-technical people. If you use any word or term that is likely to be unfamiliar to a non-technical person, DEFINE IT! (The only exception to this rule would be a topic which ASSUMES a detailed technical knowledge in the first place, such as a detailed discussion of the workings of an encryption algorithm). Wherever there is a cost involved, discuss the costs, even if the costs are only for a commercial version of the item, and you happen to have a free version.

Your grade will be based upon level-of-effort, as determined by me, and also how much information an intelligent person, who is not a computer expert, would learn from your paper. If there is something important that the reader should know about this topic, and you do not discuss it, you will lose points. Also, if you make statements that are incorrect, you will lose points. It is expected that you will spend 8-10 hours on this project.

Cite ALL of your sources. These sources could include web sites, journal articles, information from various texts, vendor information, Newsgroups, chats with colleagues, etc. For EACH source, estimate the percent that this source contributed to your paper.

Topic: Malware - choose 3 types of "malware" to discuss in detail.

For each type:

- Describe (to a non-technical user) what it is and how it works

- damage it can cause

- how it gets into your computer

- how dangerous it is

- how to prevent against it

- how to get up-to-date info about it

- your own personal experience with it, and your experience with tools to prevent it. Include in this experience what product(s) you are using against it, why this product, how it was obtained, how the installation went, how well the setup went, and how well it performs its task. Also discuss what other precautions (other than software or hardware tools) that you take, or could take, to minimize your chances of becoming a victim of this type of problem.