What is Malware and How Does it Affect You?
Malware is a generic term for malicious software that is created and used by cyberattackers to cause extensive damage, compromise devices and systems and steal information. Some examples of malware include viruses, ransomware and spyware.
Each type of malware works in a different way to carry out its attack and achieve its objectives. Some work to steal data or login credentials, while others are used for extortion, industrial espionage and more.
All malware exploits some form of human weakness, whether through ignorance or ill intent. This is why a multi-layered defense strategy is essential.
Viruses, worms, Trojan horses and spyware are the most common types of malware. Viruses are malware that self-replicate by inserting themselves into other programs and files, typically going unnoticed until they reach a point where their actions can impact a device or network. Worms, on the other hand, can infect a device through unsecured or unpatched file servers, allowing them to spread rapidly. Trojan horses are designed to appear as legitimate software programs, gaining access to a device and its user, and enabling the malware to execute its functions without the knowledge of the victim. Spyware is a common type of malware that collects data and observes the user’s activity, without their knowledge.
Some types of malware are easy to detect, like banking trojans that steal login credentials or ransomware that locks a device and demands payment to unlock it. Others, however, are much more difficult to detect. Cryptominers, for example, use computing power to verify transactions on blockchain networks and earn cryptocurrency in the process—a crime that is becoming more targeted by cybercriminals, moving away from a shotgun approach.