BotNet News

Malware is computer code used for nefarious purposes, such as theft of data or inflicting damage on software systems. It can take several forms, including viruses, worms, Trojans, spyware and some forms of adware. It is an ever-present danger in our work-from-anywhere, always-connected world. Cyber criminals typically use malware for financial gain. Examples of this include ransomware attacks that encrypt business critical data and demand payment to release it.

Other reasons cyber criminals deploy malware include to conduct industrial espionage or disrupt operations. They can also cause widespread outages in a nation or region by attacking infrastructure and power systems using a botnet or distributed denial-of-service attack.

A malware attack is a complex event with many components that must be in place to successfully penetrate your defenses. To make matters worse, attackers often deploy hybrid threats, combining different types of malware to get past security controls.

For example, a Trojan may enter your system to create a remote access pathway that can deliver more malicious payloads. This is often the first step in a broader infection campaign that includes a worm, DDoS attack or another type of malware attack.

The term “malware” has many meanings, but the most commonly accepted definition refers to unwanted software programs. The first modern virus was Elk Cloner, which spread through floppy disks to Apple II systems in 1982.