BotNet News

Malware, short for malicious software, is an umbrella term that covers any type of code that is designed to invade computer systems. It can take control of devices, spy on activity, steal sensitive information or do other damage. Malware can hide in the form of viruses, worms, spyware and even adware.

It can be difficult to identify malware because attackers use different tactics to gain a foothold in your system. But there are some common signs of a malware infection:

A strange spike in Internet activity. Trojans and ransomware, for example, need to communicate back and forth with the attacker’s command-and-control servers. Often times, this means they eat up disk space and can slow down your system.

Frequently used apps and programs suddenly start to act differently. This could be an indication of adware, which is designed to show you unauthorized pop-ups or make changes on your device or computer without your consent. Or, it may be a sign of spyware, which is designed to keep track of what you do on your device and send that information to the attacker.

There are billions of consumer-owned devices that can be infected by malware. Attackers use these devices as a large attack surface for adware, spyware, keyloggers and cryptojacking (using someone’s device to mine for cryptocurrency). Ransomware attacks have been booming, holding data hostage until a payment is made. And industrial espionage is another threat where attackers encrypt files and then sell those secrets on the dark web.