From viruses and Trojans to ransomware and spyware, malware infections pose a significant threat. They can create a raft of major problems for victims and cleanup operations can be highly challenging, costly and time-consuming. Here we explore the various types of malware, their modes of infection and the steps you can take to protect your system from them.
Malware types
With over a billion different strains of malware in circulation and a further half a million new varieties identified each day , discussing the threats posed by them all would be an insurmountable task. There are, however, six basic groups of malware that we will look at here. These are viruses, worms, Trojans, ransomware, spyware and adware.
Viruses are the most well-known type of malware and get their name because, like their biological counterparts, they are designed to spread from machine to machine and system to system. Cybercriminals infect systems with viruses by secretly inserting them into legitimate software packages, so once the software is installed, the virus is too. Besides infecting other systems, viruses are also created to carry out other malicious acts, depending upon the strain. This can include corrupting apps, reformatting drives and deleting files and data.
Worms are also designed to multiply and infect other systems. They can be used to launch DDoS and ransomware attacks, steal sensitive data, delete files and overload networks. While there are similarities with viruses, they infect systems by different means, such as via software vulnerabilities, peer-to-peer sharing, portable drives and malicious email attachments.
Trojans are also like viruses in that they attach themselves to legitimate software, however, they are not programmed to spread to other systems. Once installed, they can carry out a wide range of operations, including stealing personal information, identity theft, tracking keyboard activity, deleting, modifying and copying files and data, altering system settings to disrupt performance and installing other software.
Ransomware, as the name implies, puts a system out of action until the victim pays a ransom in cryptocurrency. It works by encrypting all the files on a system and blocking access to it. Cybercriminals will provide the necessary decryption key to the victim once the ransom has been paid, with the price rising the longer it takes to pay. Victims with sensitive information may also find that their data has been stolen and that a further ransom is required to prevent it from being published on the internet. Ransomware can be installed in a wide variety of ways, including through other forms of infection.
Spyware tracks user activity, with different versions doing this in different ways. These can include tracking which websites people visit, the apps they use and even their keystrokes. More advanced versions can take control of a computer’s camera and microphone to take video, voice recordings and screenshots. Victims can unwittingly give away important information, including account credentials, as well as make themselves vulnerable to blackmail and exploitation.
Adware is an annoying form of malware that makes ads suddenly appear on computer screens, often as popups that continuously keep appearing and won’t go away. They often appear as a flashing system warning, saying you have a virus, and providing a link to software that can remove it. The link, however, will be malicious and will result in more malware being installed.
How secure is your network? Read: 5 Top Tips to Ensure Network Security
Modes of malware infection
We have already mentioned some of the ways malware can infect systems. These include installing pre-infected software programs and opening infected files via peer-to-peer file sharing and portable drives. Infection can also take place when downloading films, music, images, etc. To minimise the risk, never download anything from an unofficial website or pirate site, as these are commonly used by cybercriminals. Businesses should block these sites so employees cannot visit them. Additionally, make use of antivirus software that scans files on download and immediately quarantines any that have infections.
One of the biggest causes of infection today is via email. Many phishing emails contain malicious attachments or links which can trigger malware installation when a user clicks on them. Other phishing emails will link to websites where just landing on the site leads to an infection in what is known as a drive-by attack.
Malware can also be installed via hacking. Cybercriminals can gain entry to systems by brute force or by using stolen login credentials and then install the malware on your system once they have access. Additionally, they will target vulnerabilities in network security or outdated applications.
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Protecting your system from malware
With so many modes of infection, protecting systems from malware requires a variety of different tactics. Central to this is ensuring that employees are aware of the threats and how to avoid them, for example, training them to recognise suspicious emails, not giving away login credentials and not downloading files from unofficial websites. Admins, meanwhile, should block IP addresses, websites and file types that potentially pose a risk.
Businesses should also have a robust password policy, including strong and regularly changed passwords and two-factor/multi-factor authentication. Network devices should similarly have strong passwords.
To prevent infection via outdated software, admins also need to implement automatic updates to ensure vulnerabilities are removed as soon as a patch becomes available. Anti-virus programs should also be used in case of zero-day vulnerabilities, and to detect and quarantine any other infection that may have found its way onto your system.
To mitigate the risk of infection via phishing emails, state-of-the-art spam filters, like SpamExperts, can prevent 99.98% of infected emails from arriving in your inbox. Staff training, however, will be vital in ensuring any that do get through are spotted and deleted.
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If you find your system has become infected, the consequences can be damaging. Systems may need to be rebuilt, resulting in significant downtime, costs and reputational damage. You may also find that there has been catastrophic data loss. Much of the damage can be avoided and costs and downtime substantially reduced by having an effective backup solution in place.
Backup dilemmas? Read: Cloud Backups – The Best Way to Protect Website Data
Conclusion
Our reliance on digital systems means that malware is one of the greatest threats to organisations, businesses and individuals. Protecting your system from the various modes of infection is therefore vital. You should now be aware of what the main forms of malware are, their modes of infection and the steps you can take to keep your system secure.
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