Wikipedia:WikiProject Malware.html



This is a WikiProject, a collaboration area and open group of editors dedicated to improving Wikipedia's coverage of a particular topic, or to organizing some internal Wikipedia process. Please see the Guide to WikiProjects and the Directory of WikiProjects for more information.

WikiProject Malware is devoted to giving users up to date information on all topics malware. Malware is defined as 'Malicious Software' and contains anything that is termed to have a malicious intent on a users computer, such as: Virii, Spyware, Trojans, Potentially Unwanted Programs, and Rootkits.

Goals

Its aim is to help set up standards of organization and presentation for articles on computer viruses, computer worms, and other forms of malicious software, or "malware" for short.Knick 02:44, 27 January 2007 (UTC)

Scope

This WikiProject aims to help organise and format articles about malicious computer software.

Descendant WikiProjects

WikiProject Malware is a descendant WikiProject of WikiProject Computing, WikiProject Software, and Wikipedia:WikiProject Computing/Computer and Information Security task force

Participants

1. Scorchiolio - 11 April 2006
2. Trafton - 11 January 2006
3. l337p4wn-15 January 2006
4. iguana_nirvana14- 29 January 2006
5. TheJC ^Talk_{Contributions} 05:26, 16 May 2006 (UTC)
6. Hezzy 21:11, 4 August 2006 (UTC)
7. Jacroe - 4 January 2006
8. AchedDamiman
9. Sephiroth storm - 25 January 2008
10. Igorberger - 25 January 2008
11. KingDoomed - 27 January 2008
12. Sljaxon - 18 February 2008
13. SusanLesch - 11 May 2008
14. Tyw7, Leading Innovations ‍ ‍‍ (Talk ● Contributions) 14:04, 21 August 2008 (UTC)
15. User:Neffyring- June 14, 2008
16. -- TinuCherian ^{(Wanna Talk?)} - 04:26, 1 July 2008 (UTC)
17. DanielPharos - 4 November 2008
18. Icelilly - 9 November 2008
19. blurpeace ^{(talk - contributions)} 21:24, 30 November 2008 (UTC)
20. TechOutsider - 22 December 2008

Userbox for participants:
{{Wikipedia:WikiProject Malware/Userbox}}

WikiProject Malware is a participant in WikiProject Malware.

Structure

At present, there are three different kinds of Wikipedia articles on viruses, Spyware, Adware, and other PUP's

Basic stub

Basic stubs contain what type of virus is in question, and perhaps very basic information about a significant payload, if there is one. Generally, the template is not used. These articles should be considered placeholders for expansion, and should be marked with the stub template: {{malware-stub}}. An example article is Alex & Solo (computer virus).

Advanced stub

Advanced stubs contain advanced descriptions of behaviour, but not a complete analysis. Some minor details, such as text strings may be missing. The template is generally used. This should be used for semi-common viruses or formerly common viruses, and does not require immediate expansion; expanding these articles is low priority. An example article is AntiCMOS (computer virus).

Full article

A full, thorough description and analysis is included. An example is Westwood (computer virus).

Major issues

Name formatting

Articles should follow the format Virusname (computer virus) for viruses, Wormname (computer worm) for worms, Trojanname (trojan horse) for trojan horses, etcetera. These should not include prefixes and suffixes. For instance, what one virus scanner calls Win32.Sobig.A@mm should be shortened to Sobig (computer worm). Variants can usually be included in the original article, but the B version of Sobig would be included at Sobig.B (computer worm). DOS viruses are similar; the original A variant (or a general family description) should be included at one space (for instance, Jerusalem (computer virus)), with variants spanning out.

DOS viruses offer a problem. For instance, Westwood is a variant of Jerusalem. It would be acceptable to include Westwood at either Westwood (computer virus), or Jerusalem.Westwood (computer virus), although a redirect from the former would be necessary if the later was used.

Redirects

Aliases, alternative names, shortform names, etc. should all be redirected. It is also recommended to redirect ".A" variants to the main articles (for instance, AntiCMOS.A (computer virus) is redirected to AntiCMOS (computer virus).

Tasklist

It might be worth adding entries from the WildList before the rarer viruses.

These articles may be in need of some type of help, I will add more as I come accross them, feel free to add.

• Spyware
• Adware
• Malware
• Nagware
• Computer Virus
• AntiVirus Gold
• Rogue software
• Bargain Buddy

Merge request:

• Data stealing malware

FAQ

How much knowledge is required to contribute?
Although basic computer knowledge is fairly essential, all are encouraged to contribute. The one suggested "golden rule" is "contribute only what you understand." Even if you paraphrase something from another article, it may be "lost in translation."

How can I know whether the information I am getting is accurate?
The short answer is, you can't. The average computer virus analysis contains several errors, and even more omissions. This is especially common among "partially analysed" older viruses. Scott's Valley is one example. It was never determined whether Scott's Valley had a destructive payload. Some articles simply ignore this. McAfee[1], however, generally mentions this, which is helpful. The best thing to do is cross-check articles to check for discrepancies, and note them if they exist.

How can I know which virus has which aliases?
Short answer: you probably cannot. Long answer: if you have a sample of the virus in question you can submit it to VirusTotal or some such service and jot down the various reports.

Wikipedia Root Points

Root articles

• Malware
• Computer virus
• Computer worm
• Trojan horse
• List of computer viruses

Root categories

• Category:Malware
• Category:WikiProject Malware

Root templates

• Template:Computer virus.

Project Box

The prefered project box is a joint box for articles that may fall under the scope of our parent WikiProject.

{{WikiProject Computing|class=|importance=|malware=yes|malware-importance=}}

WikiProject Computing (Rated NA-Class)
	This article is within the scope of Computing WikiProject, an attempt to build a comprehensive and detailed guide to computers and computing. If you would like to participate, you can edit the article attached to this page, or visit the project page, where you can join the project and/or contribute to the discussion.
NA	This article has been rated as NA-Class on the quality scale
NA	This article has been rated as NA-importance on the importance scale
	This non-article page is supported by the WikiProject Malware (Discuss), a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Malware on Wikipedia

You can also use:

{{WikiProject Malware|class=|importance=}}

WikiProject Malware      (Rated NA-Class)

v • d • e This article is within the scope of WikiProject Malware, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Malware on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks. NA This page is not an article and does not require a rating on the quality scale. NA This page is not an article and does not require a rating on the importance scale.

Article Statistics

Bot-generated statistics (on articles having the project banner on their talk pages).

Malware articles		Importance
		Top	High	Mid	Low	None	Total
Quality
	GA					1	1
	B		1				1
	C	1		1		1	3
	Start		1		1	14	16
	Stub		3	1	1	92	97
	List					9	9
	Assessed	1	5	2	2	117	127
	Unassessed					100	100
	Total	1	5	2	2	217	227