Stealth Virus

As it relates to computer security, a stealth virus is known as an infection that uses various techniques to avoid user detection. In general, stealth is defined as any approach used to do something without being noticed. Viruses that elude the anti-virus scanners have been specifically designed to do so. New infections and those that cannot be detected because a security solution has not been updated are also described as stealth viruses. A stealth virus is scripted to hide itself in system memory when an anti-virus scanner is ran. This infection also uses numerous techniques to conceal any changes that have been made to system files or boot records. A stealth virus will often keep a copy of the uninfected file and monitor user activity on the computer. When the scanner attempts to detect any data that has been altered, the virus redirects it to a storage directory that contains the uninfected data, thus allowing it to pass the scan. A quality anti-virus program will have the ability to find a stealth virus by seeking evidence in system memory and checking directories that infections normally attack.