In today’s digital age, the threat of malware attacks will only continue to increase. This increase can make it challenging for businesses and consumers to protect themselves from these security threats regularly. While malware is a term commonly used to describe various malicious software programs that can infiltrate and damage computer systems, numerous types can do more damage than just to systems.
Other types of malware can gain unauthorized access to systems, steal sensitive user and consumer data, and even hold everything at a ransom until payment demands are met. Malware can come in many different types and varieties, most of it to steal from consumers and businesses. Continue reading to learn more about the seven most common types of malware and the most dangerous types, as well as how to prevent them.
What Are the Different Types of Malware?
While malware has been around in some form since computers became widely available, the most common types have evolved. Nowadays, many different types of malware can impact consumers and businesses alike. From viruses to ransomware, most malware is designed to exploit systems for the benefit of cybercriminals. Understanding the types of malware is key to protecting your devices and systems from cyberattacks.
1. Viruses
Viruses are one of the most common types of malware to date. They are programs that infect a computer, disabling the device so that they can self-replicate onto the system. Since viruses are self-replicating, once installed and run, they can spread from one device to another on the same network automatically without human intervention. Although they are commonly associated with computer worms, viruses often need user interaction to deploy successfully.
Viruses often circulate through malicious email attachments, corrupted downloads, or compromised through software vulnerabilities. Many malicious viruses are designed to steal personal information, delete files, or take over your computer system entirely. One of the most notable computer viruses known in history was the ILOVEYOU virus. This virus was sent through phishing emails and, once downloaded, was duplicated and then deployed onto operating systems, taking down comprehensive company networks.
2. Trojan
A Trojan is a form of malware downloaded from the Internet or installed by other malicious programs. It can be disguised as a legitimate application, such as an antivirus program, to trick users into downloading it, thus infiltrating their device, network, or system. Trojans are customarily used to steal information, including credit card numbers and other sensitive consumer data, or install other malware onto a computer.
An example of a notable Trojan malware attack is the Zeus Trojan, discovered in 2007. This malware attack stole classified data and duplicated the software by deploying botnets to continue infecting more devices and systems. Trojans may also be included within software packages that claim to be genuine programs but contain hidden spyware and other malicious software programs designed to collect classified data. Many types of trojans can be spread through malicious email attachments and other social engineering methods.
3. Botnet
Botnets are groups of devices infected with malware to perform a specific task. These malware bots can be used for malicious reasons, including sending spam emails, phishing, smishing, launching DDoS attacks, or distributing malware. One of the most notable botnet attacks was the Mirai botnet attack in 2016, which allowed hackers to overtake many Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Many botnet kinds of malware are often generated by infecting numerous computers with Trojans or other malware types. Once deployed, it can be difficult to identify and terminate since it involves several infected devices instead of only one computer.
4. Rootkit
Rootkits are a kind of malware created to hide its presence within a computer system. It can be employed to gain unauthorized access to a system or network. Many rootkits are designed to create backdoor access into systems and networks to steal data and commit other illicit activities. For example, a rootkit malware called CosmicStrand was discovered in 2022 and said to gain unauthorized access to computer systems while also making changes to the target’s CSMCORE DXE driver, which affects both boot services and the runtime environment.
Most rootkits are installed through Trojans or other malware that aims to infect a device or system, change system drivers, and steal data from victims. Due to backdoor access, these types of malware can be difficult to detect and remove, given that there is no direct method to detect them through an operating system (OS).
5. Spyware
Spyware is malware that spies on a user's computer activity. This type of malware can monitor keystrokes, capture screenshots and web browsing activity, and record audio and/or video. Spyware is commonly installed on the victim's computer without their knowledge. It can steal sensitive information, such as user passwords, credit card numbers, and other data.
One example of spyware is a keylogger. Hackers often use keyloggers to steal passwords and other user data to gain unauthorized access to a system. Other types of spyware can monitor and record audio/video calls and track user activity on a system. Ultimately, spyware can be challenging to pinpoint, given that it runs secretly in the system's background, mostly undetected.
6. Adware
Adware is software that displays unwanted advertisements on your computer. It can be distributed through email attachments, downloads, and infected websites. Adware can slow down your computer and cause other performance issues. It can take many forms, including pop-up ads, banner ads, and sponsored content. For example, the adware program DeskAd pushes deceptive ads and then bombards the browser windows with ads.
The premise behind adware is often to disrupt the system memory, causing processors and other operating system capabilities to crash. Most adware today is often used to generate revenue for its developers by delivering targeted ads to the user. However, some forms of adware may also collect user data for targeted advertising purposes without their consent.
7. Ransomware
Ransomware is malware that encrypts a targeted victim's files and locks access to their computer system. This type of malware demands a ransom payment to receive a decryption key or another access method to unlock the system and regain access. Ransomware attacks aim to extort money from individuals, businesses, and organizations by holding information and systems hostage. A recent example of a ransomware attack that affected an energy supply chain was the Colonial Pipeline attack in 2021. With this attack, bad actors disrupted and caused issues to the gas supply available within the Eastern United States.
Ransomware can be transmitted through various channels, including email attachments, malicious sites, software vulnerabilities, and social engineering attacks. As ransomware infects a system, it ordinarily displays a message or notification notifying the victim about the encryption and demanding payment. This payment is often requested in the form of cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin. Once a ransomware attack has occurred, paying the ransom does not guarantee access to their files or systems will be recovered. It may also encourage further attacks on the targeted system.
What Is the Most Dangerous Type of Malware?
It’s widely known that most malware types can cause considerable damage to systems, networks, files, and data. Malware attacks often depend on numerous factors, including the attackers' intent, the target, and the vulnerability exploited.
However, ransomware has been proven to be the most dangerous to consumers and organizations. It is known to spread rapidly, be undetectable for long periods of time, be expensive to remedy, and restrict access to critical data.
Ransomware is often considered the most dangerous type of malware because it can cause significant damage to individuals, businesses, and even governments. Additionally, ransomware has been proven to disrupt power grids and other energy supply chain resources that people need daily. Cybercriminals have been able to automate and develop it into a service product for other criminals to deploy themselves with solutions such as ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS). Of the many kinds of malware that can cause cybersecurity issues, ransomware can not only hold entire systems hostage while demanding payment, but it also often comes with no guarantee the malware has been alleviated.
How To Prevent Malware
While challenging to avoid, malware is preventable in many cases. Counteracting malware issues is important to safeguard your devices, systems, networks, sensitive information, and data.
Here are a few quick ways you can prevent malware from impacting your systems and devices:
- Ensure your devices and computer systems are updated and backed up regularly. This can provide quicker remediation and recovery during a malware incident.
- Install software that supports anti-malware, antivirus, and anti-spyware. This software should include scanning, identifying, quarantining, and successfully removing malware types from systems. Software that helps detect and remedy malware threats, like Bitdefender and MacAfee Antivirus, can help people and businesses better protect their data.
- Avoid suspicious emails and websites. Cybercriminals are always looking for new ways to use malware to attack organizations and individuals. It is best to avoid websites that seem suspicious and report any unsolicited emails and attachments sent to you if you are unsure of the source.
- Utilize strong passwords. Many hackers and malware programs can use keyloggers and spyware to track user information and data, so it is important to use strong passwords. More complex passwords and multi-factor authentication (MFA) can help minimize the likelihood of password cracking.
Qualified IT pros are key to helping prevent malware attacks. Make sure you have the proper skills and knowledge by earning cybersecurity certifications like CompTIA Security+ and CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+).
Learn the skills you need with CompTIA CertMaster Learn + Labs. Sign up today for a free trial.