You would like to believe that the internet is an honest and ethical place for everyone but it’s not the case. As technology advances and data becomes the driving force for all operations, it is getting increasingly difficult to protect your workstations from online criminals and hackers.
Every day you hear news of data theft and malware attacks happening in an office anywhere in the world. Because of the greater push for digitization, the digital footprint of everyone is increasing and one can easily hack all important details of an individual or organization.
But if you want to protect yourself from malware attacks then you need to first understand what are types of malware and how they spread in the system.
Defining Malware attacks
Malware, short for “malicious software,” is a file or piece of code that can virtually perform any action an attacker desires, including infecting, exploring, stealing, and conducting operations. The wide variety of malware can infect the system in many different ways. Malware attacks can steal confidential data from your computer, progressively slow down your computer, or even secretly send bogus emails from your email account.
What are types of malware?
All type of malicious software is called malware. Different types of malware attacks that we encounter in our daily lives are as follows:
Botnets
These networks of infected computers are known as “robot networks,” and they are run by lone attackers using command-and-control servers. Botnets are extremely adaptable and dynamic, and they can maintain resilience by deploying redundant servers and infected PCs as traffic relays. The armies behind today’s distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) malware attacks are frequently botnets.
Cryptojacking
Cybercriminals can install malicious software on desktops, laptops, and mobile devices to do malicious crypto mining, which is the practice of employing processing power to validate transactions on a blockchain network and earn cryptocurrency for doing so.
Malvertising
A combination of the words “malware” and “advertising,” malvertising refers to the practice of using web advertising to propagate malware. Typically, these malware attacks entail inserting dubious code or malware-filled advertisements into trusted websites and online ad networks.
Polymorphic malware
Any of the aforementioned malware attack subtypes have the ability to “morph” frequently, changing the code’s visual appearance but keeping its internal algorithm intact. The software’s altered exterior makes it harder to detect using conventional viral signatures.
Ransomware
Ransomware using malicious software to lock up important files, data, or information and demand a ransom is a criminal business model. Operations of ransomware victims may be completely shut down or significantly compromised.
Spyware
Malware attacks monitor how the infected computer is used and relays that information back to the attacker. The word covers net worms, keyloggers, backdoor activity, adware, botnets, and backdoor behavior.
Trojans
Malware cloaked in software that seems to be trustworthy. Malware Trojans will carry out any action they have been designed to once they have been triggered. Trojans do not multiply or spread through infection as viruses and worms do. The name “Trojan” alludes to the historical tale of Greek troops who were given to the rival city of Troy while being concealed inside a wooden horse.
Virus
Programs that replicate themselves across a network or machine. Malware attacks of viruses tack on already-running applications and are only activated when the user launches the application. In its worst forms, viruses have the ability to corrupt or delete data, spread via email sent by the user, or completely wipe out a hard drive.
Worm
Self-replicating viruses that automatically spread through computers and networks by taking advantage of security flaws. Malware worms do not affix to active programs or change files, in contrast to many viruses. Typically, they are not detected until the replication scales to the point where it consumes a large number of system resources or network traffic.
How to protect your system from malware attacks?
- Keep your system and software updated
It’s a good idea to install operating system updates as soon as they become available for your Windows and Mac system because Microsoft and Apple frequently provide updates for their operating systems. Fixes from these updates frequently help to increase the security of your system. A few operating systems also provide automatic updates, enabling you to receive updates as soon as they become available.
Updates can be installed on Windows systems using the “Windows Update” feature and on Mac, systems using the “Software Update” feature. We recommend searching the Microsoft and Apple websites for further information on how to install system updates on your computer if you are unfamiliar with these capabilities.
Your computer’s software should also be updated to the most recent versions in addition to the operating system. More security updates are frequently added to newer versions to stop malware attacks in your systems.
- Use a non-administrator account for security purposes
For preventing malware attacks, different accounts on an operating system have different security settings as they are used for multiple purposes by different users. For example, the admin account is used for installing software while the “limited” or “standard” account cannot do so.
We advise using a “restricted” or “standard” user account whenever possible because you probably won’t need to install new applications when conducting routine web browsing. By doing this, you can lessen the chance that malware will infect your computer and alter the operating system.
- Be extra cautious while clicking or downloading anything
The majority of individuals in the real world certainly have some trepidation about entering a dubious-looking structure with a banner that reads, “Free computers!” in flashing lights. On the internet, you should use the same amount of caution when visiting unknown websites that promise freebies.
Do you truly trust the website that is selling that free video editing program or role-playing game? We understand that it could be alluring to download it. Before downloading or installing anything, it might often be helpful to exit that website and look up reviews of the website or program in question. One of the main ways that people get malware attacks is through downloads, so be careful about what you download and where you receive it.
- Think twice before opening an email and its attachments
Would you immediately open and devour a box of chocolates that a complete stranger sent you in the mail? Most likely not. Similarly, if a stranger sends you an email with questionable attachments or photographs, you should be cautious. These emails could occasionally just be spam, but they could also covertly carry dangerous malware. Please mark those emails as spam if you use Gmail so we can better filter out emails like this in the future.
- File sharing should be limited
You may exchange files with other people very effortlessly on some websites and programs. Many of these websites and programs provide scant malware protection. Use caution when exchanging or downloading files over these file-sharing techniques to avoid viruses. Malware frequently assumes the form of a well-known film, song, game, or application.
- Use antivirus software to prevent malware attacks on your systems
If you must download something, make sure it is malware-free by using an antivirus tool before opening it. You can check for viruses on your entire computer using antivirus software. To detect malware early and stop it from spreading, it’s a good idea to do routine computer scans. Google does not provide antivirus software, but the following article includes a list of antivirus programs to take into account: malware removal from your machine.
You can also hire some company for outsourcing this job of protection from malware attacks at your workplace. Nure IT Solutions Private Ltd is committed to creating a safety firewall and carrying out consistent evaluations for finding any imminent threats before malware attacks.