Malware (Malicious Software)

Malware (malicious software) is one of the top threats to computer systems and is a program that is inserted into a system, usually covertly, with the intent of compromising the confidentiality, integrity, or availability (CIA) of the victim’s data, applications, or operating system or otherwise annoying or disrupting the victim. It includes a broad range of software threats that exploit various network, operating systems, and physical security vulnerabilities to spread malicious payloads to computer systems.

Type of Malwares includes:

•   Viruses: This is type of malware which spreads from one computer to another by embedding copies of itself into files, which by some means or another are transported to the target. Viruses usually do not self-propagate rather require human or program involvement to spread.
• Worm: A type of malware which spreads from one computer to another by transmitting copies of itself via a network which connects the computers, without the use of infected files. Worms propagate themselves without requiring any human intervention
• Trojan Horses: a software program that appears benevolent but carries a malicious, behind-the-scenes payload that has the potential to wreak havoc on a system or network.
• Logic Bombs: These are malicious code objects that infect computer systems and lie dormant until they are triggered by the occurrence of one or more conditions such as time, program launch, website logon, certain keystrokes, and so on.
• Ransomware: is a type of malware that utilizes cryptography. After infecting a system through many of the same techniques used by other types of malware, ransomware then generates an encryption key known only to the ransomware author and uses that key to encrypt critical files on the system’s hard drive and any mounted drives. This encryption renders the data inaccessible to the authorized user or anyone else other than the malware author.
• Backdoor: Malware which, once it reaches the target, allows the initiator to gain access to the target without going through any of the normal login and authentication procedures.
•  Rabbit (Bacterium): type of malware which uses up all of a particular class of resource, such as message buffers, file space or process control blocks, on a computer system.

Malware prevention mechanisms:

• Minimize using platforms that are vulnerable to malware.
• Deploy and upgrade antimalware software.

Some prominent malwares that brought havoc:

• Stuxnet
• Code Red worm
• RTM Worm
• WannaCry Ransomware