What Is Malware And How To Prevent Against It
Malware, Prevent Against it.
Malware, short for malicious software.
You may have heard the terms ransomware, trojan and virus used in news reports and wondered what they actually mean. These words all refer to a type of malicious software used to infect computers and devices.
Malware (short for malicious software) is fast becoming one of the biggest threats online and has been used in some of the world’s largest cyber-attacks including the 2017 WannaCry attack that affected more than 200,000 victims in 150 countries.
Malware is typically installed on a computer when a user clicks on a link, downloads a malicious attachment or opens a rogue software program. Once installed, attackers can use the malware to spy on your online activities, steal personal and financial information or use your device to hack other systems.
This form of attack has proved hugely profitable and is becoming more sophisticated as criminals blend old and new variants to cause maximum damage.
There are lots of different types of malware available, with some more harmful than others. 230,000 new malware samples are produced every day and each strain has its own individual way of infecting and damaging computers. The most common types of malware are:
Virus
A computer virus is a type of malicious software that once activated, will replicate itself from folder to folder, inserting its own code. A virus can spread rapidly and will usually infect a system with the intention of stealing personal and financial information, sending spam or locking the system down.
Worm
A worm is very similar to a virus in that it replicates itself within a system but unlike a virus, it doesn’t spread to other programs. Once installed, the worm silently goes to work and infects the machine without the user’s knowledge. Worms can replicate themselves hundreds of times over, depleting system resources and damaging devices.
Trojan
A Trojan is a type of malware that disguises itself as legitimate software but really serves a malicious purpose. A Trojan may claim to be a free update, game, or an anti-virus program, tricking the user into installing it onto their device. Once installed, the Trojan works quietly in the background to steal sensitive data, install a backdoor or take other harmful actions.
Ransomware
In recent years, ransomware has become the malware of choice and by the end of the year, it’s expected to cost the world more than $8 billion in damages. Ransomware is a type of malicious software that encrypts a victim’s data and blocks access until a ransom is paid. The most common delivery method for ransomware is by clicking on a link within an email or opening a malicious attachment.
Spyware
Spyware is a type of software that installs itself on a device and secretly monitors a victim’s online activity. It collects all sorts of data, including passwords, credit card numbers and browsing activity.
Adware
Adware is a type of malware that once downloaded will unexpectedly show advertisements on the victim’s computer. Adware doesn’t tend to steal data like other forms of malware, but it can be extremely frustrating as the user is forced to see ads they would prefer not to. The ads range from small banner ads to invasive pop windows that can’t be closed down.
Botnet
A bot is a device that has been infected with malicious software to do something harmful without the user’s knowledge. Botnets are networks of these infected devices that work together under the control of an attacker. Botnets can be used to conduct phishing campaigns, send out spam or used to carry out Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks.