Here, we often interchange the word “virus” with the word “malware”. It is for the purpose of simplicity, as we focus our article to the actual story rather than falling for defining the types of nasty software that was involved in the news. In this article, we provide you a quick glimpse of all malware types that currently exist in the wild, however, just like we did in the previous articles, this list will be an abridged list. We will also be discussing ways to combat them from the perspective of an end-user, removing the complexity and simplifying the tech language used.
The following are some general categories of malware:
Backdoor
Backdoor is an IT term that comes from English that indicates the back door. It is characterized in that it sends malware to a PC or smartphone as a spoofed virus, and opens a back door that is easy to invade later and causes harm. The Trojan horses mentioned above are also known as backdoor related malware.
Ransomware
Ransom is a term that means ransom. It is characterized by the fact that the files and data of the infected PC cannot be read. It is called ransomware because it is a system that requests money based on the data restoration.
Trojan horse
Among malware, what is known from its similarities to Greek mythology is Trojan horse malware. At first glance it looks like a problem-free software, but it is a malware that can be installed only after being disguised and start performing harmful behavior after a while. It is also characterized by the lack of self-proliferation function, and it is not difficult to control if it is found.
Worm
The worm is a typical example of malicious malware. It is not only an infection, but it proliferates and increases programs that cause malfunction. Sometimes it is also known to be malicious by permuting existing programs into systems.
Why in the world that malware came into existence?
There are computers in the world that are currently infected by a malware, but they are still operating and connected to the network. Who makes malware? What are their motivations?
Money purpose action
A lot of recent malware is ransomware. Adult sites and other displays cannot be deleted from the desktop, and reports have been reported that they can be deleted after paying a specified account. Paying for money may also create new types of malware. It is recommended that you do not respond to payments but take other measures.
Political leverage
Although it is denied as a country, malware may be used for the purpose of making a cyber attack from a specific country to a country. One good example was the Stuxnet worm, which was allegedly funded by the United States government to destroy Iranian’s nuclear enrichment facilities.
Entertaining behavior
The 15-minute of fame virus authors are far fewer these days compared to decades ago. This is because the main motivation for developing malware is for profit.
What is the route of malware infection?
Malware problems are likely to become more serious in the future. Malware is often infected naturally as a human being gets ill with a virus. Here are some points to be aware of where the malware infection route is:
Install free app
There are many reasons for getting infected with malware on your smartphone, it’s a free app. There are many cases where you are asked to provide permissions whether you want to give the app more access to the device, most of which are obviously unrelated to the purpose of the app. It is recommended that you refuse, especially when related information such as contact information or location information is likely to be performed.
Email and free software updates
It has always been noisy with viruses, but it is better not to open a strange email inadvertently. In particular, emails sent from suspicious addresses with attachments are likely to be dangerous. There are many who use free software because it is convenient, but there are also many cases where it is supposed to download different software at the same time when updating free software. There are many cases in which the language is written in foreign languages, but be careful when updating if there are any extra checklists.
Tips against malware infection:
Remove software and apps that you do not remember as a workaround, it is recommended that you delete software or apps that you do not know as a better one. Whether it is a personal computer or a smartphone, it is often the case that something that you do not know is installed.
Use an antivirus software
If you want to recover the computer that has been infected computer in a short period of time, you can use paid security software, or if you can identify the cause, you can use something called vaccine software. Vaccine software can be downloaded free of charge if it is a major security software company. If the infection is quite serious, it is often in a state where it can not be downloaded. In that case, it is better to physically install the security software from CD or USB.
Watch for free apps and software
It is said that the cause of many viruses and malware infections in recent years is because of the installation of questionable freeware apps. It is essential to check the distribution source when downloading and installing. You will also need to pay attention to the download, only download from sites of well-known software vendors.
Update the OS and system
If the computer is connected to the Internet, you will be notified of updates about the systems and software you use regularly. As a detail of system update, measures for malware are taken as security measures and antivirus measures. You can avoid the infection by updating frequently and keeping it updated.
Also, Read:
Five Android Antivirus Apps vs Google’s Own Antivirus Solution