BotNet News

Malware, which stands for malicious software, aims to infect and damage computers, mobile devices, tablets, and networks. Hackers and cybercriminals deploy malware to steal or corrupt information, extort money, disrupt systems, and otherwise make their victims suffer. They use a wide variety of tactics to do this, but their motives remain the same: profit at the expense of unsuspecting victims.

A common tactic is ransomware, which encrypts business critical data and demands payment for the decryption key. Another is cryptojacking, which secretly hijacks computer processing power to mine cryptocurrency for the attacker. Cybercriminals may also use malware to spy on their targets, stealing login credentials and financial details to sell on the dark web. Alternatively, they may disrupt the functions of digital medical devices or steal industrial secrets to undermine competitors. And of course, nation states can use malware to cripple the Internet over a large swath of territory or destroy physical infrastructure.

Detecting a malware attack can be difficult. Signs of infection may include a slow, unresponsive device or frequent system crashes. Other signs include an unusual increase in popup advertisements (a sign of adware) or the appearance of files on your system that you did not create. If you have an incident response plan in place, follow its procedures to contain and remediate the attack. Then, notify stakeholders and take steps to comply with data breach laws.