In this article, we will be talking about Malware such as Trojan horses, worms and spyware and the potential danger that it can have on your computer network.
Any program or file that poses a threat or has the potential to cause harm to a computer network is referred to as malware. Malware can take the form of computer viruses, Trojan horses, worms, and spyware. These malicious programs are accustomed to carrying out a wide variety of activities, some of which include data theft, stealing, encrypting or destroying sensitive information, hijacking vital computing functions as well as monitoring activities of the user’s computer network without authorization or permission from the user. Cybercriminals employ various means in the dissemination of the malware responsible for infecting and disrupting devices and systems. An ancient method of deploying malware attacks is through USB drives, where harmful programs are offloaded from the USB drive to the target device or through the internet, by implementing drive-by-downloads. This mechanism automatically installs harmful programs on the systems without the approval of the user.
Overview
A more sophisticated and modern means of deploying malware is the use of Phishing attacks, which involves the disguising or cloning of emails as though they are legitimate messages, containing malicious links or attachments which trick users into clicking the link and installing a harmful file on the users’ device which will, in turn, perform the action required by the hacker. The command and control server that grants threat actors the permission to communicate with infected systems, export sensitive data and gain remote access to the compromised device is utilized by advanced malware attacks in carrying out their malicious practices.
Types of Malware
There are various types of malware, each unique in its way. They include; Virus, the most prevalent malware type customized to execute itself and spread by corrupting and infecting other programs and files on the target device. A worm is also another type of malware, identifiable by its self-replicating attribute, which allows it to spread without any form of human interaction. Other formidable malware types include Trojan horse, spyware, ransomware and rootkit.
Detecting and removing malware
A user can discover malware if attention is given to unusual activities in the network system, such as surprisingly slow speed, occasional network/system freezing, constant crashes as well as an unexpected increase in the amount of internet pop-up ads. Once the malware has been discovered, an antivirus tool capable of detecting and removing malware should be installed on the device. The installed tool will be responsible for providing real-time protection and detection of malware as well as carrying out system scans at intervals.
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