Although your computer system may be an inanimate object, it is possible for it to get “infected”. Computer viruses and other types of malware are not new by a long shot, they are still quite rampant, even if there are firewalls and methods that have been developed to protect computers from such attacks. Malware, or “malicious software,” is a broad term that is used for any malevolent computer software, program, or code that is meant to harm computer systems.
Although they have the same general intention, different types of malware have different specific goals. Some may be used to steal personal information with the intent to use it for fraud, others may be used to somehow sabotage you from getting any work done (mostly by targeting the essential software on your computer), and others hack into your computer to make money off of you.
Evil Software: Most Common Types of Malware and How They Work
1 – Adware
Have you ever seen random ads suddenly pop up while you were browsing the internet? These are classic examples of pop-up ads that may contain adware. This type of malware displays unwanted advertisements that disguise themselves to be legitimate advertisements that will try to trick you into clicking them to install the malware into your computer system.
2 – Spyware
This type of malware does exactly what you think it does. As its name implies, spyware secretly monitors the activities of the computer’s owner without their knowledge. The spyware will bypass security controls and report the monitored activity back to the software’s author.
3 – Computer Viruses
These are probably the most well-known types of malware. A virus in a computer works similarly to how viruses in humans. They attach themselves to working programs and computer codes and when the computer’s owner finally activates them, usually by accident, they will usually corrupt and destroy essential parts of the computer’s software.
4 – Trojan
Have you heard of Helen of Troy and the Trojan Horse? This is exactly how trojan malware behaves. It usually presents itself as something useful to the computer’s user. Once the user has allowed the trojan into the system, the attackers who created the malware will now use their access to the computer to wreak havoc on the system. They may also be used to install ransomware onto the computer.
5 – Ransomware
Ransomware will work to lock the computer’s owner out of the system and will only allow them to regain control once a “ransom” has been paid. This type of malware has been frequently referred to as the cybercriminal’s weapon of choice because they usually demand to get paid in untraceable cryptocurrency, making it very difficult to trace the authors of the malware.
You may have accidentally clicked on one of these types of malware, causing your computer to malfunction. The good news is that malware cannot damage the physical hardware of your system, it can only corrupt the software. This being said, you can easily wipe your software clean and start fresh. If you have a backup of your files, you will be able to have your computer up and running as if nothing happened. On top of that, there are certain cybersecurity measures you can take to ensure that your computer will be safe from malware attacks.
If you want to truly protect your system from cyberattacks, you need a company you can trust. A leading online cybersecurity agency, FraudWatch has been protecting client brands around the world since 2003. They are leaders in online brand protection from phishing, malware, social media, and mobile apps impersonation. Get the best in cyber attack prevention today by working with us!