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threat level definitions

Level

Description

Definition

Cookies are files created and used by various websites to record useful information upon visiting their site. Such information can include account logins, passwords, user-defined preferences, etc. Not all cookies are malicious; in fact, many are useful to the everyday Web user, storing information for the user’s next visit. However, because cookies are used to store information and pass it back to a particular website, they can be used to obtain information about users browsing habits, personal preferences, and even personally identifiable information.

Utility with Ads

A program with any number of legitimate functions given to the user on the basis that the user accepts advertisements generated by or included in the program, as a requisite to the program’s use. Oftentimes referred to as ‘ad-supported software’, this threat level may include adware, ad-supported clients, browser helper objects, toolbars, and others.

Clear

A program, often a utility with ads, which employs internally generated advertisements, third-party applications, or other bundled software and notifies the user of this upon download or installation of the base application. This threat level may include adware, downloader, ad-supported clients, browser helper objects, bundled software, toolbars, and others.

Covert

A program that installs, runs, or includes internally generated advertisements, third-party applications, and/or other bundled software without express user permission. These programs can be a security threat and include malware, backdoors, bundlers, hijackers, keyloggers, spyware, and others.

Destructive

A program, which includes third-party applications and/or other bundled software, often downloaded without user permission, which use huge amounts of a machine,’s processing power, either because of poorly written applications or because of the number of applications being installed/running simultaneously. These programs can include adware, malware, spyware, ad-supported clients, backdoors, browser helper objects, toolbars, bundlers and bundled software, hijackers, keyloggers, and others.