The BearShare Virus

The BearShare virus monitors and records PC users' browser habits.

PC users connect to computer networks to share information and download applications and software. Such activity can render a user's system vulnerable to malware, or malicious software, attacks. The BearShare virus is a form of malware.

Definition

The BearShare virus, also known as Adware.Win32.BearShare, is a computer virus attached to a utility program called BearShare by Free Peers, Inc. BearShare is advertised as a file-sharing utility with applications designed to organize media files in a user's system and support simultaneous downloads.

Symptoms

Once installed, the BearShare program executes a file command that downloads the BearShare virus, which acts as spyware. Spyware is software designed to monitor and collect information on the PC user, such as browser habits and personal data like passwords and credit-card information. The BearShare virus also causes pop-up advertisements to display on a PC user's computer.

Results

The BearShare virus can result in violation of the PC user's privacy as well as theft of personal and financial information. The BearShare virus can also consume processor space on a computer, slow down operations, cause applications to freeze and, in severe cases, cause the user's system to crash.

References

• Emisoft: Name: Adware.Win32.BearShare
• "Computer Viruses and Malware"; John Daniel Aycock; 2009

Resources

• "Absolute Beginner's Guide to Security, Spam, Spyware & Viruses"; Andy Walker; 2005