What is Malware? Why is it Dangerous?
May 06, 2022
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Our devices face more threats than most people might think. As easy and convenient as technology has made our lives, it has also put us in more danger than ever before, especially if you’re not keeping up with the latest trends in cybercrime.
One of the biggest silent killers of the internet era is malicious software. You might be asking yourself: what is malicious software? If you’re unsure about how viruses, spyware, and ransomware work, then you don’t need to worry because you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, we’re going to be exploring what malicious software is, and how it gets onto your device, and you’ll also be reading up about the three most common types of malicious software that you might find on your device. Keep reading to keep yourself and your devices safe!
What is Malware?
Malware, short for malicious software, is a dangerous type of software that can be installed on your device. Whether it’s a smartphone, laptop, or tablet, malware can make its way onto your device and cause chaos. The last thing you want on your device is some form of malware as it will cause you headaches.
There are different types of malware that you need to be aware of, and all of them are dangerous. We’ll be discussing the most common types of malware in further detail below, but first, let’s take a look at how malware can make its way onto your device.
The method that cybercriminals use to install malware on your device is through phishing scams. We’re all relatively familiar with the classic email phishing technique that cybercriminals use to trick their victims, however, phishing can extend beyond that.
Phishing scams involve cybercriminals urging potential victims to interact with a link. When the victim clicks on the link, malware can be installed on their device, oftentimes in the background, which means that the victim might not even know about the malware being installed on their device until it’s too late.
While email phishing is the most common, the strategies used by cybercriminals have exploded in recent years. Hackers often use social media these days as it is easier to target specific groups of people, such as people with an interest in football for example. This makes it more likely for people to click on fraudulent links. Cybercriminals also sometimes hide their links online in plain sight. Remember, links can be disguised as images and icons too, which can trick innocent victims into installing malware on their devices simply by browsing the internet.
Viruses
The first of the most common types of malware that you need to be aware of is viruses. Unlike their biological counterparts, computer viruses are man-made, and the cybercriminal can program them to either just be annoying for the victim or dangerous to the device.
There are several different types of viruses, some of them are extremely dangerous and can even destroy your device’s entire operating system, but some are just plain annoying and will send you hundreds of pop-up ads every minute. Either way, a virus is nothing good, and you don’t want one on your device.
Aside from making their way onto your device through phishing scams, computer viruses can also be transmitted from one device to another through emails, websites, or physical media devices such as USBs and External Hard Drives.
Spyware
Spyware is yet another dangerous form of malware that you need to be careful of. Spyware can be installed on your device without your knowledge, and the main purpose of spyware is to keep track of what you do on your device.
Spyware is able to log your online activity, which means that a cybercriminal will be able to see your browsing history, login credentials, and more. This is not only a massive invasion of privacy, but it can also put your devices further at risk of being compromised.
If a cybercriminal can get a grasp of the websites you visit, they can get an idea of what interests you, and this will allow them to send you more carefully crafted phishing emails that you are likely to interact with, which could install even more malware on your device.
Ransomware
Ransomware is the most dangerous form of malware that exists, and it’s the last thing you want to find on your device. Ransomware is able to encrypt important files or accounts on your device, and the only way to access them is with a unique key set up by the hacker.
Encrypted files and accounts cannot be accessed at all. You also won’t be able to move or transfer files that have been encrypted by ransomware. This means that if you have important business or personal files on your device, there’s no way to get hold of them unless you have a secure copy of them elsewhere, or you pay the ransom fee.
The only way to remove the encryption from your device is to pay the ransom fee to the cybercriminals. The ransom fee can be thousands of dollars, if not millions. Even if you pay the ransom fee to the cybercriminal, they can decide whether or not they will send you the key to unlock the encryption from your files.
How to Keep Your Device Secure
There’s no doubt that malware is something that you want to stay as far away from as you possibly can. With a massive spike in cybercrime in recent years, you want to make sure that your devices are as secure as they possibly can be.
The first thing you want to do is read up a bit more on phishing scams and how you can avoid falling victim to them. If you know what to look out for, then phishing scams will be much easier to spot.
You also want to ensure that you install premium malware removal software on your devices. You should avoid free software as they often do not offer enough protection for your devices. Finally, you need to ensure that all of your software, especially your device’s operating system is up to date. Software updates are often used to fix any flaws in the system, and they sometimes as new security features to your devices.
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