There are more number of malicious programs than you might have thought of. Here, we take a closer look at some of the common types of malware.
1) Trojan Horse
Trojan Horse (aka Trojan) is disguised as a normal program or a file that tricks users to download it. Once installed in a computer, the malware can provide remote access to hackers. Then, hackers can monitor user activities (keylogging, screen watching), or steal different types of data such as electronic money, financial data, and login credentials.
2) Worm
Worm operates independently and has a breeding mechanism; it is not reliant on users to access a particular file as it is designed to create a background process. Unlike other types of malware, worms infect a network rather than a single computer.
Worms are disguised as email attachments. Attackers acquire a list of email addresses and send the malware to recipients via bulk email deliveries. By infecting a network, worms can create communication with devices that are associated with already-infected computers.
3) Bot
Bots are designed to automatically perform certain operations. Although the initial intent for creating bots was harmless, cybercriminals have taken advantage of the software programs over the years to use them maliciously.
There are several ways attackers can use bots for malicious purposes. They can use bots for distributing disguised malware on download websites. Bots can also be used as web spiders for scraping server data, and a spambots to render website advertisements.
4) Rootkit
Rootkit is another type of malware which can remotely access or control a computer without users’ consent; it can go undetected under a security program as well. Attackers can remotely access files once the malware has infected a computer.
Attackers can have the ability to alter software/system configurations, install more malware, or simply steal sensitive information.
5) Spyware
Spyware, as the name suggests, operates by spying on user activities. Attackers, through spyware, can harvest different types of data, collect keystrokes, or even monitor activity without users’ knowledge. Attackers spread spyware by exploiting software vulnerabilities.
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