Types of Malware
Malware is malicious software used by hackers and cybercriminals to perform a variety of attacks. There are many different types of malware, and some are more sophisticated than others. Some types of malware include computer viruses, Trojans, spyware, keyloggers, worms, ransomware and more. Some of these are designed to spread from device to device, while others require the attacker to be in direct contact with a victim.
Malicious code can be hidden in a wide range of files, including videos, pictures and software programs. When you download and run these files, the malware may start running in the background, spying on your activities or making unauthorized changes to the device. For example, a worm might infect your computer by hiding in an executable file or in a Word document template. It can then reproduce itself and infect other files and applications on the host system.
Some malware types are designed to steal personal or confidential information. A keylogger records your keyboard activity and sends the gathered data to the attacker, who can then use it to steal usernames and passwords. A worm can spread by sending infected files to your contacts, while a Trojan horse uses social engineering techniques to gain access to a device. Once it has a foothold, the Trojan can give attackers backdoor access, install viruses or worms, or steal data.
Some malware is designed to make money for the attackers by using your device’s processing power to mine cryptocurrency. The infamous Mirai botnet, for example, launched massive distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks by hijacking thousands of infected consumer devices to verify bitcoin transactions.