While technology has made life infinitely easier for everyone, it has also introduced a slew of new threats that can cause serious problems if left unattended. This is especially true for brands and businesses, as they have more to lose and are constantly under threat. Due to this, cyberattack prevention has quickly become a top priority.

 

Out of all the many cyberthreats that plague us today, rootkits are one of the most harmful. Considering how big of a threat they are, it’s rather worrisome considering how little people actually know about them. To help remedy this, we’ve put together a brief discussion on rootkits. If this is something that you’re interested in, read on as we break down everything you need to know about this hidden threat.

 

What Is a Rootkit?

 

Before anything else, it’s important that we clearly define what rootkits are. Rootkits aren’t anything new and have been around for decades. What makes them so dangerous is that they’ve been developing through the years, which increases their capacity to do damage to your systems. Rootkits get their name from the most privileged admin account in a system called the root. Rootkits are able to give away privileged access to your system without you even knowing it. The most common form of rootkits that infect systems nowadays come in the form of malware such as Trojans, worms, and viruses.

 

Once a rootkit has penetrated your system, individuals will be able to command and control your computer. This allows them to remotely execute files and even make changes to your system configurations. Rootkits also allow people to access your log files — effectively spying on the activities of the person utilising the computer.

How Do You Find Rootkits?

 

What makes rootkits so tricky to deal with is they’re impossible to find on your own. To find rootkits on your computer, you’ll need to hire cybersecurity experts and invest in the latest antivirus or antimalware software.

 

Now, finding rootkits become doubly difficult when you realise that they barely leave any recognisable signs when they infect your computer. This means that you may have a rootkit installed without ever knowing it. To best protect yourself from this, it would be wise to regularly scan your computer for malware so that you can spot potential threats and issues before they do too much damage. You’ll also want to keep an eye out for signs of infection. If you’ve noticed that your computer has started to slow down, then it may be time to scan it for malware.

 

How Do You Prevent Rootkit Malware from Infecting Your PC?

 

Luckily, there are more proactive things you can do to prevent rootkits from infecting your computer. The main thing you have to keep in mind is to be very careful when it comes to what you download onto your computer.

 

Rootkits get into your system by disguising themselves as software or files. To prevent this from happening, we suggest only downloading software and files from reputable sources. Aside from being worried about what goes on your computer, ensuring that all your antivirus and antimalware software are up to date will also go a long way when it comes to stopping rootkits from taking control of your computer.

 

 

We hope this article has helped you gain a better understanding of rootkits and how to best stop them from doing damage to your computers. As long as you keep everything we mentioned in mind, then you should be adequately protected from these types of cyberattacks.

 

If you need help with cyberattack prevention, don’t hesitate to reach out to FraudWatch. We are the leaders in online brand protection and can deter threats such as phishing, malware, and mobile app impersonation. Contact us today to learn more about our services!