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About Malware

Cyberattacks using malware steal, encrypt or delete data, hijack core computing functions, spy on your activity or all of the above. While most people assume cyber threats attack only desktop computers and laptops, it’s also important to consider your mobile devices and Internet of Things (IoT) products as possible targets for malware attacks.

The first examples of modern malware began in 1982 with the Elk Cloner virus, deployed against Apple II systems via floppy disks. This was arguably the first widespread computer virus outbreak, but it wasn’t until 1990 that the term “malware” was coined by cybersecurity analyst Yisrael Radai.

There are many different types of malware, ranging from viruses to worms to Trojan horses to adware. Viruses infect files or programs to spread, while a worm can replicate itself to infect other systems over a network. Trojan horses masquerade as benevolent software and gain unauthorized access to a system to steal or install other malware, such as ransomware. Logic bombs concealed in programs can be triggered by a user action or released at a predetermined time, causing the program to crash or wipe a hard drive.

Malware typically makes its way onto your device through phishing attacks, exploits or malvertising. But you could also unknowingly download it from a third-party website or peer-to-peer networks. Often, you won’t know you have malware until your device begins to act up and slow down. Depending on the type of malware, your computer or smartphone may also begin making unauthorized changes, such as displaying pop-up windows, changing search engine results or adding icons to your desktop.