BotNet News

Malware is any kind of software designed to harm or steal information from a computer, mobile device or other networked system. Its many forms and purposes are constantly evolving. Hackers rely on technical vulnerabilities and social engineering tactics to distribute malware in a variety of ways.

One of the oldest and most common forms of malware are adware programs that spam a device with unwanted pop-up ads. Most adware is included with free software, and users unwittingly install it on their devices. Adware can also harvest personal data, redirect web browsers to malicious websites and download other types of malware onto a device, such as ransomware.

Another common type of malware is a worm, which self-replicates by attaching itself to other programs on a victim’s computer. Worms often spread through unsecured networks, and they can be delivered via email or instant messaging programs. Another popular form of malware is scareware, which appears as a sudden pop-up message warning that the victim has broken the law or their device is infected with a virus. These messages usually urge the user to pay a fine, download fake security software or share sensitive information.

Other kinds of malware include Trojans, spyware and keyloggers. Trojans, which are disguised as useful programs or applications, typically gain unauthorized access to a device by reaching out to their attackers’ command and control servers to download other malware, such as ransomware. Spyware, which quietly observes a user’s activities without their permission, can reveal passwords, account and credit card numbers and other personal information. Finally, keyloggers record every stroke of a keyboard to secretly transmit that data back to an attacker.