October 06, 2020
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8Need to Know: Types of Malware
Quite often, novices and average internet users make one mistake: they call any malicious attack a virus or Trojan, when it is more correct to call them malicious software. The difference between these concepts is significant.
There are many types of malware and, accordingly, methods for protecting and combating them. Therefore, if you’re using incorrect terminology, it is likely that you will try many unnecessary solutions before you finally get rid of the malware. For example, rootkits are very different from regular viruses, and it is often not enough to use only antivirus software to clean them.
Updated Cyber Crime Statistics for 2020 helps you define the most common cyber threats on the net to protect your data.
This article will provide a brief explanation of the best-known types of malware and some advice on how to neutralize these cyber threats.
Read Anonymity Online: How to Stop Being Afraid of Online Surveillance and implement the best security tools for that.
What is Malware?
Malware is a form of malicious software. As a rule, such programs are developed by cybercriminals. Their main function is to destabilize the computer, followed by data theft, surveillance, and causing moral and physical harm to the user.
There are several types of such programs based on the different methods they use:
- Delivery method. For example, downloaded files that contain computer malwares. In addition, this includes phishing, various net attacks, access to personal data like passwords.
- Vulnerability method. Various SQL injections that are implemented to copy the data and spoof site domains to create an identical copy of the required site, which will perform other functions.
- Used platform. This can be either a PC or a mobile device. As a rule, each of the electronic devices has its own program for data storage.
- By stealth. For example, there is malicious software — rootkits — that replace the software’s original components with other, more dangerous elements.
- Software behavior and distribution. This refers to certain attributes and identification marks used to spread malware.
Typically, such programs are created to achieve the financial goals of cybercriminals. To deal with different types of malware, you first need to understand what types exist. So now, we will make a simple classification of computer malware attack.
Read Checklist of Necessary Security Measures on the Internet to fight against any cybercriminals.
Types of malware
Adware
Adware displays ads on the devices. In this case, the software collects all the necessary information about users to set up relevant ads in the browser. These may appear as pop-ups or in the browser when you are visiting various websites.
Usually, these programs prompt for consent for the display of such advertising. If you see such a request, it means that it is a safe ad. If an ad appears without your permission or request, it is a virus ad that can harm your device.
How to neutralize?
You should use antivirus programs, Trojan scanners, adware removal programs, as well as firewalls.
Do you want to know How Google Track Users on the Network? Read the article and adopt appropriate privacy methods to protect yourself.
Spyware
Spyware is a special program designed to spy on users on the internet. It collects your data and then sends it to interested people. For example, advertisers or hackers.
In addition, such software can be used for collecting some sensitive and private users’ data like passwords, credit card data and bank accounts information.
How to neutralize?
You should use antivirus programs, Trojan scanners, and adware and spyware removal programs. In some cases, they can also be detected using firewalls.
Computer virus
A computer virus is a malware that harms the entire computer. It not only slows down and destabilizes the computer, but also can permanently delete necessary files. While the virus is running on your computer, all the necessary files are transferred to other media.
Viruses are usually difficult to detect. Therefore, the process of restoring your computer after a virus attack takes quite a long time.
An outbreak of various computer viruses was observed in the early 2000s. However, over time, users have learned to repel such attacks.
How to neutralize?
You should use antivirus programs.
Read Protected Internet: Stay Save Online and consider the most effective data protection method on the net.
Worm
Worms are malware very similar to viruses. They are also designed to copy certain information. However, the worms do not infect the device or user files. They are transferred in special containers to a specific folder, after which they perform their main function, and in the same way, they leave the device in the container.
The computer network is the source of the spread of such worms. Many of them are intended only for distribution, but not for changing the entire system.
How to neutralize?
It would help if you used an antivirus solution with firewalls.
Trojan
A Trojan is disguised as a useful program. Usually, cyber criminals present such programs to users under the guise of useful and secure programs. It works on the principle of the Trojan horse from the famous work of Homer — the Iliad.
Trojans open access to user data for cybercriminals. They receive IP addresses, bank account, and more.
This malware type is the most frequently used because it is almost impossible to detect and prevent.
How to neutralize?
You should use antivirus and Trojan scanners.
Bots
Bots respond to automatic management of a specific device by a central server. Bots can work as worms or other malware types. A bot network, or “botnet,” can launch a specific DDoS attack on a website to overwhelm it and shut it down.
DDoS Attack: What It Is and How to Trace a DDoS Attack. Read the fully-fledged instructions to prevent any cyber threat.
How to neutralize?
You should block internet access using your provider, as well as installing a filter on network devices.
Keylogger
Keyloggers copy a sequence of keys typed by a specific user. Today, keyloggers are legitimate programs that can be used for various purposes. However, this requires special registration. Without that registration, such programs are considered illegal and harmful to the user. In this case, they copy confidential information such as passwords, financial information, and personal data.
How to neutralize?
You should use antivirus and Trojan scanners, secure on-screen keyboards, and programs to remove adware and spyware.
Rootkit
A rootkit is a set of malicious software that illegally opens access to a specific computer. After installing such a program, you can remotely control a specific device or perform certain actions with stored files, folders, etc.
Rootkits are quite tricky to detect since they work on different OS levels. For example, if they chose the lower layer, the BIOS device’s so-called input layer is quite challenging to detect and remove from the device.
How to neutralize?
You should wipe your hard disk.
More about malware
We’ve listed only the most popular malware types in this article. Unfortunately, there are many such programs, and every year, cybercriminals come up with more and more new ways to deceive users.
Only an alternative system that will be free of advertising, censorship, and surveillance can stop the spread of such programs. One such system is Utopia P2P ecosystem.
The future is a peer-to-peer network. Read What Is a P2P Network? and learn why you should choose this type of network right now.
Utopia is completely anonymous, so no one knows the real data of the person hiding under any nickname. Therefore, setting up any malicious software in such a system does not make sense.
Thank you for reviewing the topic types of malware. I learned a lot of useful and interesting things from this article. I have always thought that this topic is very complex, and it would be difficult for me, far from all this, really understand.
Good afternoon, Lord! Thank you for your feedback. In fact, the topic of computer malwares is not very complex. The main thing you need to know is the crucial differences between types to take all the necessary measures in time both to eliminate the threat and to prevent it. As you can see, nothing is difficult.
What is the most dangerous type of malware? Or can all types equally destroy and stop the computer altogether? Previously, the subject of malware attack was very popular. I thought that there is no such thing on the internet for a long time. And it turns out that this all just scales over time.
Good afternoon, Vikk! Unfortunately, each type of malware is very dangerous and can destroy and stop your internet and computer work. Moreover, some types of malware can copy all your data or monitor your activity. Such spy programs are very profitable for hackers who copy all your data and then blackmail you by draining it all into the global internet space.
I’ve recently read your article about the main difference between a worm and a virus. Only then I found this article. It turns out that there are many more types of malware. And to fight them, we all need a really safe and improved tool, like Utopia. I’ve already downloaded it. I’ll give my feedback in the comment.
Good afternoon, Donald. It is good that you take care of your internet security and use any methods for this. We hope that Utopia will not disappoint you and you will leave only positive feedback.
I don’t like the fact that you mention only one tool to fight against the types of malware. After all, there are many other cool things like TOR or antivirus. I have been using TOR for several years and I like it. There has not been any incident of an attack or threat.
Good afternoon, Evan! For our team, the most working and safe tool is Utopia. We tried other tools as well. However, none of them provided such a degree of security as this ecosystem. If it is convenient for you to use other tools for internet protection, it is good. The main thing is that you are really protected from all types of malware.