Malware – A Common Attack Vector That Destroys Organizations
Malware, short for malicious software, is a term used to describe any computer program that damages or gains unauthorized access to a device, website or network for sinister purposes like data breaches, identity theft and espionage. Malware is a common attack vector that has proven devastating to organizations. Even a single malware infection can cause significant financial damage from hefty remediation costs to reputational harm and customer churn.
Hackers use malware to steal data, destroy digital assets or commandeer systems to power botnets that can cripple critical infrastructure. The insidious nature of malware is why companies need to implement a robust, multi-layered defense against this growing threat.
Some symptoms of a malware infection include the operating system slowing down or crashing, devices communicating with unknown servers and user accounts having elevated privileges. More sophisticated malware strains use evasion techniques such as polymorphism that changes its underlying code to avoid detection by antimalware solutions or obfuscation that hides malicious commands from sandbox environments and IT security tools.
Most malware attacks occur when users click on a link or open an attachment in unsolicited emails or messages. In addition, many cybercriminals target employees with social engineering techniques designed to trick them into divulging sensitive information or downloading malware.