What Is Malware and How Does It Affect Your Computer?
Malware is an umbrella term for any kind of destructive computer programs that threat actors use to infect systems and networks. It includes viruses, trojans, bots and other software that interfere with computers’ normal operation to gain unauthorized access or steal sensitive information.
Definitions
Viruses are one of the most common kinds of malware. Designed to spread like biological viruses, they latch onto a system either in the form of an automated process or an unsuspecting user and infect it by attaching malicious code to clean code within an executable file.
A computer virus replicates itself, modifying and infecting other programs by inserting its own genetic material into the host system’s DNA. This is how they can infect machines, causing damage to the core functionality of a system and corrupting files.
Worms are another type of malware that infect machines through a process known as “worming.” They start on one machine and weave their way through a network, connecting to successive systems in order to continue the spread of infection.
Ransomware is a type of malware that infects a computer system, locks out the user and shuts down the machine, encrypting data or files and demanding a ransom payment in hard-to-trace cryptocurrency for the return of the files. This can be very damaging for the victim because it prevents them from accessing their important data and can even result in the loss of their operations.
Other types of malware include adware, trojans and backdoors. Adware tries to push unwanted advertisements with pop-up windows or blinking ads on the screen, typically in a web browser. Others are disguised as legitimate programs to trick users into installing them.