While malware is one of the biggest cyber threats we face today, it has been around since the 1970s.
Early malware variants were typically either:
- Experiments designed
to help programmers and engineers understand how computer viruses work.
- Swipe to prove how
easy it would be to hack a computer system if a user wanted to.
In the early 1980s, the first computer virus - Elk Cloner - was identified on an Apple Mac
system. By the end of the decade, the malware was used extensively as a means
of controlling computer networks and defrauding individuals and businesses.
What Is Malware?
Malware is
the abbreviation for malicious software and is an umbrella term that stands for
all software that aims to intentionally damage computer systems, networks,
servers or end-users.
Why Do Criminals Use Malware?
Criminals
use malware for many purposes, including:
- Collection of
information and data from companies.
- Interruption in the operations of any company or government or certain types of equipment and software. These are usually referred to as Distributed Denial of
Service (DDoS) attacks.
- Stealing information from individuals, e.g. B. bank and credit card details or passwords.
- Committing
"click fraud" to generate revenue from ad clicks when no clicks
have occurred.
While
malware attacks targeting all of these targets are common, most of them aim to
generate direct financial gain for those who carried out the attack.
Six Common Types of Malware and How They Work
Since
malware is an umbrella term, you may have come across content related to
different types of malware without knowing that they are similar types of
software. Below are six of the most common types and how they work.
1. Viruses
Viruses are
one of the types of malware that you are probably most familiar with. Many
people use the term viruses instead of malware to describe software attacks in
general.
Viruses are
common, but they are also one of the easiest types of malware to prevent.
How so?
Because they
require human action, like opening an attachment or downloading a website.
Viruses can
be developed for various purposes, such as B:
- Data corruption and
reformatting
- Shut down the system
- Creating botnets
- Steal data and money
2. Worms
Worms work
by exploiting vulnerabilities in operating systems. It is crucial that no
human action is required other than initial installation to infiltrate a
system.
Once an attack has been carried out, the worm can quickly replicate and spread to other
systems on a network. Worms are often used to delete files, steal
information, or encrypt data that is hiding another attack, such as a web
browser. B. ransomware.
3. Trojan
Horses
Trojan
horses are another type of attack that requires you to install something on
your system to work. Typically, criminals place a Trojan horse
over a file or program that looks harmless. Once you've installed a
program or saved the file, the criminals can then access your system.
From there, attackers can do a whole host of things, including:
- Steal your data
- Monitor your activity
- Watch you through
your webcam
- Install and deploy
other types of malware
Trojan
horses may not be able to replicate themselves, but attackers often combine
them with worms, which can cause massive damage and help criminals access more
systems faster.
4. Spyware
Spyware is
controversial because it is often used in legitimate products and programs
without the user's knowledge. Even if the adoption of the General Data Protection Regulation ( GDPR ) will reduce these cases at least
in the European Union (EU), it will remain a problem.
Criminals
also, make widespread use of spyware, often using it to monitor activity, gather
information, and steal passwords and financial information.
Also
to be contained in some legitimate programs, spyware can be used in
conjunction with Trojan horse malware or by attackers who exploit
vulnerabilities in software.
5. Adware
Adware -
advertising software - shows you unwanted advertisements.
There are
some legitimate adware software out there, but you need to give them permission
to serve you advertisements and collect your data when you install them.
Malicious
adware changes e.g. B. Your homepage and redirects you randomly to
advertising pages. Such adware can install itself through security holes
in the browser when you visit a dangerous website. However, it can also be
included in software downloads.
6. Ransomware
Given its potential
for generating huge sums of money for criminals, ransomware is the type of malware we hear about most often these days.
Ransomware
typically gets onto your system via phishing emails that contain malicious
attachments or allow "drive-by" downloads to your system.
Once
ransomware is installed, the criminals usually take control of your system and
demand payment to give you access again - hence the name of the ransomware.
While
enterprise-targeting ransomware can charge millions of dollars in exchange for
information and access, many attempts at fraud target individuals and require
many smaller payments.
Five Famous Malware Attacks
Malware
attacks, or attempts at malware attacks, happen every day. Below are five
of the most popular attacks from the malware types described above.
1. Covid Lock, a Ransomware Attack Launched in 2020
Times of
uncertainty and panic are always lucrative opportunities for cybercriminals. People
fear for their finances and the future.
In 2020,
attackers took advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to profit with ransomware
attacks.
CovidLock
infected computer systems via files that supposedly contained information about
the virus. Subsequently, when you installed CovidLock, you would face a $
100 requests for payment to gain access to your devices.
2. Emotet, a Trojan horse from 2018
Emotet has
been around since
2014. It is still prevalent and considered one of the most dangerous cyber
threats businesses face today.
Emotet
gained global fame in 2018 when multiple banks and government organizations
lost millions of dollars to criminals who used this Trojan horse to access
systems and steal data and cash.
3. Stuxnet, a Worm from 2010
Stuxnet is a notable example of malware being used for national security purposes. It's
also a great example of what people mean when they say that modern wars are
waged in cyberspace.
It is
believed that this worm was used by the US and Israeli governments in 2010 to
disrupt Iran's nuclear program. Stuxnet was distributed via USB drives. There
have been several reports of special forces secretly exchanging products in
stores that they knew were being bought by staff at Iran's nuclear facilities.
It is
believed that a similar technique was used to confirm the whereabouts of Osama
bin Laden before his killing.
4. Melissa, a Virus from 1999
Melissa was
perhaps the most famous virus from the early days of the internet boom. Distributed
via a Microsoft Word attachment, the recipients received an email with the
subject line "Important message from". When the attachment was
opened, the recipient's system became infected and the virus continued to
spread via email.
5. Wanna Cry, a 2017 Ransomware Attack
WannaCry is
one of the most notorious and costly ransomware attacks in history, resulting
in an estimated loss of over $ 4 billion to individuals, educational
institutions, hospitals, and businesses.
WannaCry was
spread via phishing emails and is said to have been used successfully at least
200,000 times.
Prevention, Protection, Detection, and Removal of Malware
Malware has
the potential to cause significant damage to your business or your private
life. Therefore, you need to know how to prevent and protect yourself from
attacks, and how to detect and remove malware if it does land on your system.
Prevention Against Malware
As we've
seen, not all malware requires human action to find its way onto a system. However,
most types are spread through phishing emails. The best means of
prevention is to make maximum use of spam filters.
Also
to using spam filters, you should also consider using e-mail programs that scan
attachments preventively. In a business context, you could even prohibit
all attachments from being sent and use cloud storage software to share files. It
is also common for companies to use systems to limit or monitor emails coming
from outside the company.
You can also
take steps to minimize the impact of certain types of attacks. If you are z. B.
Having backups of your data means you never have to pay a ransomware claim. However,
you may still have to deal with the consequences of the data breach.
Protection Against Malware
From a
personal point of view, antivirus software combined with a high level of care
is the best defense against malware.
When it
comes to protecting a business, you should look into more advanced software
tools to keep your data and finances safe.
Malware Detection
Even with systems of prevention and protection in place, there is still a chance that you will become a victim. In many cases, antivirus tools work to detect and remove the malware in question, even if they couldn't prevent it from being installed in the first place.
Remove Malware
Malware
removal can often be as simple as running a security scan and removing it from
your system by your antivirus software. However, the removal method may
differ depending on the type of malware that infected you. If your current
security program cannot remove the malware, you will need to consider another
solution or have an IT professional perform the removal manually.
You will
also need to check the log files and your system registry to make sure that all
additional files and programs have been removed. Many people repeatedly
fall victim to malware by removing the primary attack but not caring about the
elements related to it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Malware
Although
there is a lot of information about malware available on the internet, there
are still many sources of confusion and open myths that are likely to
contribute to many successful malware attacks.
Can Mac Computers Be Infected with Malware?
Yes,
although they are less likely to be infected with viruses because viruses
attacking Windows systems require a Windows operating system to be successful. The
Mac operating system itself is also more secure.
Can Your Mobile Device Be Infected with Malware?
Yes. Android
devices are more vulnerable than iOS devices because you can download apps from
different sources. In contrast, with an iOS device, you're limited to the
App Store. However, users who “jailbreak” their iPhone increase the risk
of their device becoming infected.
Regardless
of where you download content from, you should also have antivirus software on
your mobile devices.
Protect Yourself and Your Company from Malware Attacks
Given the
potential consequences a malware attack can have, it doesn't cost much to
protect yourself.
While you
can use Total Security Software and other tools to
proactively monitor and combat threats, keep in mind that a lot of malware
relies on human action to function. You need to combine software with
ongoing training and awareness for yourself and your teams to make sure you
protect yourself from malware threats as best you can.
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