What is Malware

What is malware?

Malware, short for malicious software, refers to any intrusive software developed by cybercriminals (often called hackers) to steal data and damage or destroy computers and computer systems. Examples of common malware include viruses, worms, Trojan viruses, spyware, adware, and ransomware. Recent malware attacks have exfiltrated data in mass amounts.

What is the intent of malware?

Malware is developed as harmful software that invades or corrupts your computer network. The goal of malware is to cause havoc and steal information or resources for monetary gain or sheer sabotage intent. 

Intelligence and intrusion

Exfiltrates data such as emails, plans, and especially sensitive information like passwords.

Disruption and extortion

Locks up networks and PCs, making them unusable. If it holds your computer hostage for financial gain, it's called ransomware.

Destruction or vandalism

Destroys computer systems to damage your network infrastructure.

Steal computer resources

Uses your computing power to run botnets, crypto mining programs (crypto jacking), or send spam emails.

Monetary gain

Sells your organization's intellectual property on the dark web.

How do I protect my network against malware?

Typically, businesses focus on preventative tools to stop breaches. By securing the perimeter, businesses assume they are safe. However, some advanced malware will eventually make their way into your network. As a result, it is crucial to deploy technologies that continually monitor and detect malware that has evaded perimeter defenses. Sufficient advanced malware protection requires multiple layers of safeguards along with high-level network visibility and intelligence.

How do I detect and respond to malware?

Malware will inevitably penetrate your network. You must have defenses that provide significant visibility and breach detection. To remove malware, you must be able to identify malicious actors quickly. This requires constant network scanning. Once the threat is identified, you must remove the malware from your network. Today's antivirus products are not enough to protect against advanced cyberthreats. 

7 types of malware

Virus

Viruses are a subgroup of malware. A virus is malicious software attached to a document or file that supports macros to execute its code and spread from host to host. Once downloaded, the virus will lie dormant until the file is opened and in use. Viruses are designed to disrupt a system's ability to operate. As a result, viruses can cause significant operational issues and data loss.

Worms

A worm is a type of malicious software that rapidly replicates and spreads to any device within the network. Unlike viruses, worms do not need host programs to disseminate. A worm infects a device through a downloaded file or a network connection before it multiplies and disperses at an exponential rate. Like viruses, worms can severely disrupt the operations of a device and cause data loss.

Trojan virus

Trojan viruses are disguised as helpful software programs. But once the user downloads it, the Trojan virus can gain access to sensitive data and then modify, block, or delete the data. This can be extremely harmful to the performance of the device. Unlike normal viruses and worms, Trojan viruses are not designed to self-replicate.

Spyware

Spyware is malicious software that runs secretly on a computer and reports back to a remote user. Rather than simply disrupting a device's operations, spyware targets sensitive information and can grant remote access to predators. Spyware is often used to steal financial or personal information. A specific type of spyware is a keylogger, which records your keystrokes to reveal passwords and personal information.

 Adware

Adware is malicious software used to collect data on your computer usage and provide appropriate advertisements to you. While adware is not always dangerous, in some cases adware can cause issues for your system. Adware can redirect your browser to unsafe sites, and it can even contain Trojan horses and spyware. Additionally, significant levels of adware can slow down your system noticeably. Because not all adware is malicious, it is important to have protection that constantly and intelligently scans these programs.

Ransomware

Ransomware is malicious software that gains access to sensitive information within a system, encrypts that information so that the user cannot access it, and then demands a financial payout for the data to be released. Ransomware is commonly part of a phishing scam. By clicking a disguised link, the user downloads the ransomware. The attacker proceeds to encrypt specific information that can only be opened by a mathematical key they know. When the attacker receives payment, the data is unlocked.

Fileless malware

Fileless malware is a type of memory-resident malware. As the term suggests, it is malware that operates from a victim's computer's memory, not from files on the hard drive. Because there are no files to scan, it is harder to detect than traditional malware. It also makes forensics more difficult because the malware disappears when the victim computer is rebooted. In late 2017, the Cisco Talos threat intelligence team posted an example of fileless malware that they called DNS Mesenger.

What are the benefits of advanced malware protection?

Advanced malware can take the form of common malware that has been modified to increase its capability to infect. It can also test for conditions of a sandbox meant to block malicious files and attempt to fool security software into signaling that it is not malware. Advanced malware protection software is designed to prevent, detect, and help remove threats in an efficient manner from computer system.

10 malware protection best practices

1. Update your frontline defenses

Adhere to policies and best practices for application, system, and appliance security. Create unique passwords at least 16 characters in length and use a password manager. Patch systems quickly as security flaws become well-know once the updates are released.

2. Back up data and test restore procedures

Backup processes are critical to protecting against data loss. In a world of fast-moving, network-based ransomware worms and destructive cyber attacks, you must enable a data protection solution.

3. Protect against malware

Taking a layered approach with next-generation endpoint monitoring tools, including AMP for Endpoints, next-generation firewalls (NGFW), and an intrusion prevention system (IPS), will help you deploy security from the endpoint to email to the DNS layer.

4. Educate users on threat sources

Train users on whom and what to trust and teach them not to fall for phishing or other schemes. Have them install two-factor authentication as a first line of defense.

5. Partition your network

Reduce the risk of outbreak exposure by isolating your network using network segmentation.

6. Leverage email security

Most ransomware infections are spread through an email attachment or malicious download. Diligently block malicious websites, emails, and attachments through a layered security approach and a company-sanctioned file-sharing program.

7. Use security analytics

Closely monitor your network traffic by performing deeper and more advanced analytics to see everything happening across your network. Leverage real-time threat intelligence from organizations such as Talos to better understand security information and emerging cybersecurity threats.

8. Create a set of instructions for IT staff

Review and practice security response procedures by developing an incident response plan.

9. Practice prevention and remediation

Learn about and consider additional security solutions that will further protect your network as well as expand your company's visibility. Conduct security scanning of microservice, cloud service, and application administration systems.

10. Deploy a zero-trust security framework

A zero-trust approach helps secure access from users, end-user devices, APIs, IoT, microservices, containers, and more. It protects your workforce, workloads, and workplace since you must first verify their trustworthiness before granting access.