TO malware is a malicious program developed with the sole purpose of bypassing the normal functioning of a computer system. Cybercriminals use it for various purposes, including data theft. Also called malware or malware, these programs exist in considerable quantities. In addition to companies, their personal computers are also the target of these malicious weapons. In this article we offer you an overview of the different categories of malware to which you may be exposed.
Here are the different categories of malware.
The computer virus
A computer virus is a piece of code that is integrated into a completely legitimate application. The computer virus has the peculiarity of replicating and spreading to other computers exponentially. The activation of this malware depends on the user’s action. So when the latter downloads an attachment, opens an email or runs an application that contains a virus payload, the trigger occurs automatically.
The computer worm
This type of malware aims to infect a large number of computer systems. Unlike viruses, worms can run on their own. In other words, they can operate without user intervention. How is this possible? Simply because this malware takes advantage of the vulnerabilities of the software it attacks. the wormI love you» is undoubtedly the most famous malware. It was known for its speed of spread: around 50 million computers were infected in the space of 10 days.
The Trojan horse
A Trojan horse is malicious software that appears to be legitimate software. As a result, users download and use it without suspecting the true intentions of this program. In fact, this malware, once operational on your system, executes unauthorized tasks. This could involve stealing personal data or tracking your activities.
ransomware
Ransomware tops the list of malware most used by cybercriminals. Its first appearance dates back to 2012. The mode of action of ransomware is very simple. First, the program is installed on the victim’s computer. This results in encryption of the data on the computer. In other words, the victim is unable to access their own data.
To remedy this, you need a decryption key. Unfortunately, this key does not fall from the sky. The victim is forced to pay a ransom to the hacker to regain access to their files. Hence the name ransomware, ransomware or ransomware.
Spyware and advertising software
Also called spyware or spyware, spyware is programs installed on a computer without the user’s knowledge. These malware steal information from the system. These may contain the history of all the victim’s activities on their computer. Passwords, browsing histories, messages, payment details, etc., everything is analyzed thoroughly.
Unlike spyware, adware injects ads into a system. This software, although malicious, does not pose a very big threat. They generally use web browsers to achieve their goals.
Keyloggers
Keyloggers or keyloggers are a category of spy software present on the market. Hackers use this to record all keystrokes made by the infected user. Therefore, they can collect a lot of personal information. Parents who want to monitor their children’s activities can also use keyloggers. For business leaders, this program is a great ally to control the online activity of their employees.
