What is Malware and How Can it Affect You?
Malware is software designed to perform an unauthorized process that has a negative impact on the confidentiality, integrity or availability of information systems. It includes viruses, worms, Trojan horses and spyware as well as other unwanted software like adware.
While cybercriminals can use malware for a number of reasons, the common thread is that they are interested in making money off you or your computing resources illicitly. For example, ransomware spreads through systems encrypting files and then demands a fee for the decryption key. Other types of malware are created to steal banking credentials, blackmail victims or for industrial espionage.
Most malware requires back and forth communication with a command and control server in order to operate, which can result in a spike in Internet activity. Other signs of malware include a loss of disk space, slower computer performance and pop-up warnings (often false) that your system is infected with a virus. Cybercriminals may also use email, text or a phone call to alert you to a problem with your electronic device and demand a fee to repair it.
Malware has been around since the beginning of the digital age. For example, Creeper was created by a 15-year old as a virus that would infect Apple ll computers through infected floppy disks. Things got a lot more serious in 1988 with the discovery of Morris and Vienna viruses, which could steal information such as credit card numbers stored in RAM and pass it to the attackers’ servers. While the underlying motives of malicious code change from year to year, basic preventative measures are still a good idea. These include ensuring your antivirus solutions are up to date, avoiding apps from the Google Play and App stores that haven’t been vetted by the developer, and having a comprehensive backup plan in place to minimize damage.