Malware: What It Is, Types, Causes, and How to Protect Yourself
Malware is malicious software that is mainly designed to harm computer devices, smartphones, routers, smart appliances, etc. By injecting the devices with malware, hackers can extract information, damage a system or gain unauthorised access. Malware can exist in many different categories. The different types of malware forms include viruses, worms, Trojans, spyware, ransomware and many other threats. In this guide, we explain malware, its main types, how it spreads, and how to protect your devices.
What Is Malware?
In computer science, malware (short for malicious software) refers to various forms of malicious software whose objective is to infiltrate a computer system and, once inside, carry out a series of covert activities, ranging from sabotaging the system itself, stealing confidential data, appropriating its computer resources, and infecting other systems that may be on a network.
These types of malicious programs first appeared during the 1980s, when personal computers began to become popular worldwide, and currently the Internet is their preferred means of propagation, whether through suspicious email (spam), infected web pages, shared files online, etc.
The origin of malware and computer viruses may have initially been a joke or a game by young programmers, unaware of the damage they could cause. However, since then, malicious software has evolved and grown in illegal uses, to the point that the use of antivirus tools has become imperative.
What Are the Different Types of Malware?
Based on their transmission method, we can talk about different types of malware, such as:
- Viruses and Worms: These are software programs that invade a system and perform harmful actions, such as deleting critical operating system components, after using system resources to send themselves via email or other means, thus spreading the infection.
- Hidden Malware: These are harmful programs that enter and operate silently within the system, without the user noticing.
- Trojans: Disguised as something harmless or beneficial, these programs invite the user to run them and then open the door to hundreds of other malicious programs.
- Backdoors: They allow third-party access to the computer system, bypassing the usual controls and communication protocols.
- Drive-By Downloads: Malicious pieces of software that are automatically downloaded by certain websites without asking the user for permission or allowing them to stop it in time, leading to other forms of online invasion.
- Rootkits: These are techniques for modifying key operating system files, allowing malware to remain hidden from installed detection programs.
- Spyware: Programs that secretly collect information from websites visited and use it to bombard us with spam.
- Adware: They work the same way as spyware, but by showing us online advertising while we browse.
- Hijackers: “Hijacker” programs that modify the configuration of the Internet browser, forcing it to start on a specific web page or to display certain messages.
- Keyloggers: Keyloggers. Programs that secretly collect user passwords and send them to an anonymous requester, such as credit card numbers, etc.
- Information Stealers: Similar to keyloggers, they steal sensitive user information, but only that which is stored on the computer.
- Dialers: No longer so popular since the majority of Internet connections are via broadband; these programmes stole telephone signals and allowed illegal calls to be made over long distances.
- Botnets: This term is the name given to groups of computers that respond to instructions from third parties remotely and secretly, allowing them to indirectly send spam or viruses, making it more difficult to trace the source.
- Ransomware: Various forms of software that block access to files or systems, often through encryption, and then demand a ransom payment to restore them.
Where Does Malware Come From?
We come into contact with malware in various ways, such as through malicious or compromised websites or by opening attachments in suspicious emails.
Most malware can originate from attackers or sources in many different countries. Occasionally, these malicious programs can even come from well-known companies, disguised within their products.
A famous case has been that of the “Windows Telemetry” process included in newer versions of Windows, which is able to collect information about user habits and send it to Microsoft, using system resources for this purpose.
How Can We Protect Ourselves From Malware?
The best option to protect yourself from malware is to install an antivirus and antimalware program on your computer, which should be kept up to date, and configure it to monitor for malicious or unwanted software.
It is also helpful to keep your operating system and main applications up to date, as many security updates compensate for system weaknesses that can be exploited by malicious programs.
And as a digital hygiene measure, you should avoid installing unknown software on your machine, as well as opening suspicious emails, and certainly not clicking on advertisements that seem too good to be true.
