Cyber threats have become an ever-present part of modern life. From high-profile corporations to small companies, no business or organization is immune to these threats. Consequently, protecting your company is now a regular cost of doing business. What kinds of threats are we talking about? Here are some examples:

•  Over the past few years, London’s tourist attractions have been hit by more than 100 million cyber-attacks. These malware attacks target customer’s personal and financial data which these attractions collect from visitors every day.
• A 2018 cyberattack on British Airways compromised the personal data or as many as 185,000 BA customers.
• In fall 2018, hackers compromised customer profiles and personal data of Dunkin’ Donuts’ DD Perks rewards program. 

All of these attacks were perpetrated by malware. To understand anti-malware, we first need to define malware.

What is Malware?

Malicious software (shortened to malware), is an executable program that has the ability to take action once it has obtained control in some way. Far from being a new phenomenon, it has been around for decades. Cybercriminals use all sorts of malware (viruses, Trojans, worms, spyware, etc.) to attack and damage businesses and consumers. However, this should not be confused with Phishing, which is also malicious. In contrast, phishing cannot actively sniff out your passwords. 

Without anti-malware, hackers can steal credentials, swipe secrets, and compromise customers’ identities. Yet having an anti-malware solution in place can prevent and safeguard sensitive information (both your business’ and your clients’) from exposure to cybercriminals. 

A Brief History of Anti-Malware

In the early days of personal computers, floppy disks were utilized to spread malware. Then, email and the internet introduced entirely new ways of spreading malware. As viruses became more prevalent, antivirus programs were developed. Cybercriminals became more sophisticated in their attacks, resulting in the need for creating a more comprehensive approach to cyber protection, enter anti-malware. 

In brief, anti-malware was created to combat all types of malware, not just computer viruses. In contrast to simple antivirus tools, anti-malware doesn’t simply scan email attachments or notify you of potentially harmful websites. Contemporary anti-malware solutions protect by monitoring data transferred via networks. It provides much broader protection than a simple antivirus tool.

At present, app and software downloads are one of the main avenues for introducing malware into your organization. Yet unlike early viruses, modern malware is capable of much more than corrupting or shutting down one device. It can compromise an entire network and open doors for criminals to steal account credentials or let them silently hijack secure sessions. Because of this, anti-malware solutions have become the standard for protecting businesses against all types of malware that are intended to harm end users.

What is the difference between malware and a virus? Is anti-malware and antivirus the same thing? 

The difference between malware and a virus is simple — a virus is a subset of malware. A virus can be used to describe one type of malware. However, malware is a broader term that describes all types of malicious software. 

No, anti-malware and antivirus definitely aren’t the same. To start, antivirus depends more on the signatures of known viruses to detect specifics viruses or types of viruses, much like a flu shot. In comparison, anti-malware is made up of nonsignature-based anomalies that detect unknown anomalies (malware that may not have been detected before).

An anti-malware solution offers broader protection for your business by monitoring data transferred via networks for a variety of potential threats. It also detects and removes threats to protect your entire organization and your customers. In comparison, a consumer-level antivirus software looks to block all threats to a single device.

Anti-malware solutions and antivirus tools have different targets. For example, a simple antivirus tool might detect a threat on a single machine or device. Because of this, antivirus software is not very effective for defending your entire company against malware attacks. Without a doubt, an anti-malware solution offers more comprehensive and robust protection than antivirus software ever could. 

How can organizations be negatively impacted by malware and without having Anti-malware protection?

In the event of a serious attack, malware can effectively destroy your brand. Failing to monitor and detect a malware campaign can cause serious problems like exposing your company or customer’s sensitive information. If your company suffers a malware attack, customers will initially lose confidence in your brand. As word spreads, negative publicity will further damage your brand. In the end, not having anti-malware protection could lead to huge negative financial implications for your business.

What is the best anti-malware service?

The best anti-malware service protects your business on several levels. For example, an anti-malware service should have multiple capabilities including real-time monitoring, detection, forensic analysis, and takedown. These services should also block any files (that could potentially be malware) and disrupt suspicious installations that attempt to change settings. 

What are some important things to consider when searching for a company that offers an anti-malware service?

There are several things to consider when choosing an anti-malware service. One of the most important things is whether your company will need comprehensive protection. Another key factor is the ease of implementation. For example, not everyone in your organization may be able to manage your anti-malware solution. As a result, your business may want to consider partnering with a service provider that can fully manage your anti-malware service.  Also, the quality of customer service is crucial. How available will the provider be when you have issues? Do they offer 24/7 support? All of these are important when searching for the right anti-malware service.

Who needs Anti-Malware protection? How is malware protection important to businesses?

Regardless of the size or revenue capacity, every business needs malware protection. Since it poses such a huge threat to both privacy and security, malware is absolutely crucial to every business. Without it, your business and all of its records, including your financial details along with your customers’ personal and sensitive information, could be at risk. 

How can companies benefit from using an anti-malware service?

Malware poses an enormous threat to businesses. Some malware can silently hijack secure sessions, opening your company and customers up to theft and fraud. Cyber theft of customer data via malware can lead to all types of fraud including stolen accounts and identify theft. A reliable anti-malware solution helps you to prevent cybercrimes and protects your company and your clients. 

How does FraudWatch International handle malware?

FraudWatch International monitors threats, keeping your brand and your clients safe. Primarily, we do this by detecting and removing harmful malware, rendering it non-functional in the process. Specifically, we use our proprietary tools, performing forensic analysis of the malware threat, and proactively monitoring and removing malicious content. We rely on both technical solutions and human interaction to accomplish this. Overall, we offer world-class takedown times, which lower your brand’s exposure to criminal threats and misuse.

Since launching in 2003, FraudWatch International’s Anti-Malware Protection service has disrupted thousands of malware attacks. For more information about FraudWatch International’s Malware Protection, or contact us today.