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| Image by Omni Matryx from Pixabay |
On the internet, cyber-attacks and malware are one of the biggest threats. And malwares is the most powerful thing for hackers that helps them in hijacking and gaining access or causing damage to a server, computer, or network. So, to better understand what malware can do and how to reduce your risks, read this article.
What is Malware?
Viruses, trojans, worms, botnets, spyware, adware, and ransomware are all part of a class of malicious software called Malware. Malware is programmed to cause harm by, corrupting files, alter or delete data, distribute confidential data, deny legitimate user access, disable hardware, encrypt data, hack passwords to access bank accounts or track information to steal identities and cause a hard drive to crash. It is usually created by teams of hackers often, they’re just looking to create money, either by spreading the malware themselves or sell it on the DarkWeb. There are many other reasons for creating malware too - it may be used as a tool for protest, the way to check security, or perhaps as weapons of war between governments. Malware can infect systems by being attached to other programs or as macros to files. However, once it’s active, you will start to notice the damage it is actually doing. It changes over time and continues to get smarter and faster, finding new technics to access your device or network.
Common types of Malware:-
- Virus:- Virus executes and inserts itself within the code by modifying standalone programs. Viruses are the only type of malicious software that infects other files. That makes them particularly hard to clean up. It spreads uncontrollably and damages a system’s core functionality and deleting or corrupting files. They usually appear as an executable file.
- Trojan:- Trojan cover-up itself as a trusted software program or application to get into your system and attack later. Once it installed within the system, depending on its capabilities a Trojan can access and capture everything including your logins and passwords, screenshots keystrokes, system information, banking details, much more, and secretly send everything to the attackers. Sometimes a Trojan can even allow attackers to change data or shut down anti-malware protection. Trojan can be used to install threats like viruses and ransomware.
- Worms:- Worms behavior is similar to viruses. They also replicate functional copies of themselves and can cause the same type of damage. Worms gain access to your computer through a security vulnerability or weakness. It does not need human action to quickly spread through your computer and uses a computer network to replicate itself and spread.
- Botnets:- Botnets are automated computer programs that are made to work together under the control of an attacker. It is one or more bots that can be used for attacking websites where a hacker controls multiple bot-infected computers. A hacker can use the botnet to distribute denial-of-service attacks, send spam, steal data, or gain access to a device and its Internet connection.
- Spyware:- Spyware is used to secretly gathering data it monitors your actions on a PC or other devices. It records all the user’s keystrokes on the keyboard, typically storing the gathered information and sending it to the attacker, who is seeking sensitive information like passwords, usernames, and bank card details. A keylogger is a type of spyware that records all the keystrokes a user makes great for stealing passwords.
- Adware:- Adware forces your internet browser to redirect to web advertisements, which often themselves seek to download further, even more, malicious software that can give other malware an easy way in.
- Ransomware:- Ransomware encrypts your data and demands a payment usually in Bitcoin, in exchange for the decryption key and threatens to erase everything unless you pay. Once it executed in a users system it encrypts users’ files within a few minutes. Nowadays most of Cybercriminals using it because it demands a quick, profitable payment in hard-to-trace cryptocurrency.
How to protect against malware
- Antivirus:- Using an antivirus program is like adding an extra layer of security to our system because it detects a Virus, Backdoor, Malware, Trojan and helps us to remove them from our system. Make sure you should always update your antivirus to the latest version.
- Backup:- Always encrypt and Backup your data to another separate disk or system. Backup should be done regularly. So in the case of the attack, you will not lose any data.
- Software updates:- latest software updates come with fewer flows and the latest security patches. So regularly update your mobile device or desktop because the latest software is less vulnerable to cybercriminals and it protects you against viruses, malware, and other online threats. If you use the latest updated devices, cybercriminals face difficulty gaining access to your device.
- Ad-blocker:- Hackers use ads to infect your device and so it’s safer to just block them all with a reliable ad-blocker.
- Websites:- Malware can be found on any website but it’s most common in websites with poor backend security like, local, small websites. If you use large, reputable sites, you severely reduce your risk of encountering malware.
- Popups, Text, Emails:- Cybercriminals can send you fraudulent emails, text messages, popups, online advertisements. So if it looks doubtful don't click on it. Instead, open your browser and go to the site directly or contact to company or entity.