Rootkits

Overview

Rootkits are malware designed to take control of your PC without your permission. A rootkit is intended to seize control of the operating system running on the hardware. Typically, rootkits act to obscure their presence on the system through subversion or evasion of standard operating system security mechanisms. Techniques used to accomplish this can include concealing running processes from monitoring programs, or hiding files or system data from the operating system.

Rootkits' Threat to PC Security

Rootkits make the user’s PC much more susceptible to other malware such as viruses, worms, keyloggers, etc. A successfully installed rootkit allows unauthorized users to act as system administrators, and thus to take full control of the infected system. Kernel rootkits operate at the same level as the windows operating system itself, and are thus able to intercept or overrule any operation made by the operating system. Any software, including antivirus software, running on the comprised system is defenseless against kernel-level rootkits.

Securing Your PC Against Rootkits

Detection and removal of Rootkits by traditional signature-based programs is extremely difficult. While most anti-virus and malware removal tools are generally ineffective against rootkits – certain sophisticated behavior-based approaches can prove to be useful protection against rootkits.

How NovaShield Can Protect Your PC from Rootkits

NovaShield Anti-Malware is a next generation behavior-based, signature-less technology. NovaShield is probably the most effective way to detect and remove rootkits since it recognizes malware behavior at the kernel level. NovaShield knows exactly what files and registry items were created by the rootkits and can remove these by-products in addition to removing the threat itself.