What is Malware and How Does it Affect Your Business?
Malware is software that has been developed by threat actors to disrupt, steal or otherwise compromise a system. The term is used to describe viruses, trojans and other types of malicious programs that can do things such as spy on a user, disrupt service, display unwanted pop-ups or install additional malware.
Cybercriminals develop malware in several different ways. Some are able to do this through hacked websites and other online platforms, while others use peer-to-peer file sharing services or pirated software programs to distribute their code. In some cases, the code can even be bundled into legitimate software programs. This allows the code to slip past anti-virus protections and other security systems.
Other types of malware can be delivered through USBs or spread over the internet using drive-by downloads. Some examples of popular malware include worms that can replicate themselves to infect other files and programs, Trojans that can masquerade as a legitimate program to gain access to a computer and rootkits that provide privileged (root-level) access.
In addition to its potential monetary gain, malware can cause damage to businesses or critical infrastructure by attacking their systems to disrupt or disable services. For example, ransomware attacks can demand money in exchange for access to a business’s systems. This type of attack has been particularly devastating for hospitals and transportation services.