Malware and Other Common Cyber Attacks

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(music plays) Malware is short for malicious software. It is software designed to steal information and damage or disable devices, computer systems, and networks. Malware can be downloaded and installed on devices via a phishing email, attachment, fake website, or flash drive. Examples of malware include viruses, worms, spyware, and bots. A virus is a malicious software that alters how your computer normally operates. The virus remains dormant until an infected file or application such as a web browser, Word file, or website becomes active. Once activated, the virus can replicate itself and spread from one computer to another until the entire computer network is infected. For example, if you catch a cold, you can spread the cold to others by coughing or sneezing. With a computer virus, the virus is spread when an infected file or application is open. Viruses are used to steal confidential information, gain unauthorized access, or cause damage to the computer device or network. A worm is like a virus, but the difference is that a worm does not require any action. A file or application does not have to be opened for it to infect a computer. It is a standalone software that once installed can spread from the infected computer throughout the entire network. SQL Slammer is a well-known worm that crashed computer systems around the world in 2003. It targeted random IP addresses, which are tags used to recognize individual devices connected to the internet and sent itself out into them, infecting an estimated 250,000 computers across the internet. Spyware is a form of malware that monitors what you do on your computer without you knowing that it is installed. It tracks what sites you visit and what software you download and can steal confidential information such as login credentials, and account information. A keylogger is a type of spyware that can capture your keystrokes, recording everything you type on your keyboard from passwords to online messages. Another form of malware is a bot, which is an infected computer that can be controlled remotely by an attacker. The bot, or botnet, a collection of infected computers, can be used to spread the malware to other computers. Botnets can infect millions of devices at one time. Signs of an infected device include unexpected pop-up windows, changes that you did not make to your browser homepage, slow computer performance, or unknown programs starting when the computer boots up, or when you open a specific application installed on your computer. Once a device is infected with malware, it can cause damage to that computer or spread to an entire network. There are security tools that can be used to remove malware such as McAfee, Norton, Microsoft Windows Defender, and Malwarebytes among others. Depending on the operating system of the device, you would install the appropriate version of the tool to scan the device for malware removal. Here's some key steps to prevent malware attacks. Back up files regularly to an external hard drive or reputable cloud storage. Download software directly from legitimate sites such as Microsoft.com. Pay attention to your browser's security warnings before visiting a site. Do not click on links or download attachments from unsolicited emails. Even if you recognize the sender, contact them by phone using a known number, not the one included in the email, to verify. Do not click on popups or ads about your device's performance. Do not use unknown USB drives. Scan approved USB drives using an antivirus software before using them. Set your operating system, antivirus, and other software to receive security fixes and updates automatically. Use a firewall if possible. Windows devices, offer firewall protection by default, and verify permissions and only grant what is really needed before installing new apps. For example, if an app doesn't need access to your photos, then do not grant access.