You can think of malware as any software designed for malicious intent.
More specifically, malware is produced to interfere with a computer’s normal functioning.
Technically, a computer malware virus is a type of malicious code or program written to alter the way a computer operates and is designed to spread from one computer to another. A virus operates by inserting or attaching itself to a legitimate program or document that supports macros in order to execute its code.
In the process, a virus has the potential to cause unexpected or damaging effects, such as harming the system software by corrupting or destroying data.
Malware encompasses all types of malicious software, including viruses, and may have a variety of goals. A few of the common objectives of malware are:
- Trick a victim into providing personal data for identity theft
- Steal consumer credit card data or other financial data
- Assume control of multiple computers to launch denial-of-service attacks against other networks
- Infect computers and use them to mine bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies
There are several main categories of malware. One of the most feared is ransomware. As the name implies, ransomware demands that users pay a ransom—usually in bitcoin or other cryptocurrency—to regain access to their computer.
Over the past few years, ransomware have garnered headlines with infections that encrypt computer systems of major organizations and thousands of individual users around the globe.
Global ransomware damage costs reached $20 billion by 2021 – which is 57X more than it was in 2015. Cybersecurity professionals report that ransomware malware attacks a business every 11 seconds.
Want to learn more? Tonex offers Fundamentals of Malwares and Protection Against Malware Training, a 2-day course where you will learn the definition of computer security and necessity of protection against malwares. Moreover, participants learn how risk of attacks in networks is evaluated and what are the steps to ensure the system security against malwares.
Additionally, learn about malicious software (malware), effects of malware on user’s device, and common types of malware in today’s network. This course gives you sufficient knowledge to classify the malwares based on the risk that they cause on system security.
For more information, questions, comments, contact us.