What is Malware? Everything You Need to Know About Viruses, Trojans, and Malicious Software

Malicious code is intended to cause damage to a machine without the victim being aware that there was some kind of compromise

Malware is the abbreviation for 'malicious software', a type of computer program designed to infect machines or networks, with the aim of causing damage without the victim being aware that there was some kind of compromise.

Currently, there are several types of malware, among the most common are Trojans (Trojans) and Spywares. Although they are known as 'computer viruses', there is a big difference between these types of malicious programs. Check out the main ones.  

"I am the Creeper: Catch me if you can!"

Although its origin is much debated, the most famous theory is that the first computer virus appeared in the 1970s and was named Creeper.

The Creeper moved from host to host without the entry of an active user and rolled into the operating system Tenex, which was used throughout the ARPANET, a computer network created by the Department of Defense United States, and when the virus jumped from a system for the other, he displayed the message "I am the Creeper: Catch me if you can!" Even though it was not created for malicious purposes, it was the first virus that operated in this way.

For some, the first computer virus appeared in 1986 and was called Brain. He was able to spread copies of himself without having to jump from one system to another, as the Creeper did.

The Morris Worm, perhaps, was one of the most famous computer viruses in 1988. It, in just a few hours connected to the internet, infected thousands of computers and even caused a loss of millions of dollars.

The Real Malware

It was only in the 1990s, when there was an increase in the use of the internet, that the real malware began to appear for malicious purposes. They spread across disks, floppy disks, and, most importantly, e-mails, through attachments.

Various software did damage during the early part of the decade. They deleted data, corrupted hard drives, reproduced sounds, and even displayed messages on computers. This early malware, while seeming harmless today, was the basis for the potent viruses we know today.

The Types of Malware

Malware and its developers did not stop in time and evolved along with antivirus, becoming stronger and harder to remove without causing damage to the machine.

The Trojan horse, one of the most common forms of malware, for example, is a virus disguised as a true tool that deceives the victim by appearing extremely legitimate. Once installed, the Trojan horse starts the attacks, being able to extract passwords, logins, capture screens, system information, and bank details, and later send everything to the attacker.

The Spyware, as the name implies, works as a spy. In it, the attacker is able to monitor actions taken on the computer such as browsing history, applications used, and even private messages.

But the ransomware works more aggressively compared to others. In this way, the attacker can encrypt the system, blocking the user to the victim make payment for redemption, which is made by bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies, and often a millionaire blow.

Wiper malware is also one that causes problems with data loss. When this virus is installed it can erase and destroy data on a computer or even a network.

How to Protect Yourself?

The best way to protect yourself from malware is prevention. It is important to keep the software and operating system always up to date with the latest updates and when a new update is developed, try to update your machine quickly.

Another complementary form of prevention is the installation of some security software, the well-known antivirus. Also, stay informed about the safe use of emails, download files, and advertisements.