What is Malware?

Most of us know what malware is and how it can impact us if we’re not careful enough online. As malicious software with only one purpose, malware can cause a mess and sometimes even induce severe financial consequences. Despite this, many online users still don’t pay that much attention until its too late. This detailed and concise page on malware will help you get familiar with the most common types of malware and help you learn how to prevent it from affecting you.

Most Common Types of Malware

• Viruses – Computer viruses are the most common type of malware, and are often what most people call every malicious program. Pure computer viruses are mostly a thing of the past, since hybrid malware replaced them.
• Trojans –Trojans have been around even longer than viruses and are probably responsible for the most damage out of all other malicious software. What makes Trojans different from other types of malware is that the user must execute the action.
• Worms – Dating back almost three decades ago and the first email scams, worms are one of the oldest types of malware. Since it spreads by self-replicating, the work is one of the most devastating forms of malware that can quickly affect a large number of people.
• Ransomware – Unlike most types of malware on this list, ransomware doesn’t operate stealthily. The main goal of ransomware is to steal and encrypt the user’s data until the affected party decides to pay off the requested amount.
• Adware –Adware is a malware that attempts to redirect you to a compromised site or tries to expose you to malicious advertising through seemingly legitimate product advertising.
• Malvertising – Unlike adware, which presents you with fake malicious ads, malvertising is the use of legitimate ads and sources to infect the user with malware. The danger of malvertising is that it can appear even on reliable sites.
• Spyware –This type of malicious software is a common tool of hackers who want to gain access to passwords or valuable intellectual property. By mapping keystrokes and specific activities, hackers have an open door to the user’s entire device.
• Malware Hybrids – Nowadays, malware is often a combination of at least two types of the eight ones above. The most common malware hybrids include Trojan-worm and virus-worm malware.

How to Know if your Device is Infected

Now that we’ve gotten all of our malware classifications straight, it’s also helpful to know how to spot malicious software. Here are a few useful tips on how to detect malware: Read more...