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What Is Malware? Defined, Explained, and Explored - Forcepoint

Malware is malicious software designed to damage systems or steal data. It can take many forms like viruses, ransomware, and spyware. Malware spreads through links, files, or programs that execute when opened. It can corrupt files, lock users out of their devices, or spy on online activity. Organizations should use anti-malware software and educate users to prevent malware attacks.

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28 views

What Is Malware? Defined, Explained, and Explored - Forcepoint

Malware is malicious software designed to damage systems or steal data. It can take many forms like viruses, ransomware, and spyware. Malware spreads through links, files, or programs that execute when opened. It can corrupt files, lock users out of their devices, or spy on online activity. Organizations should use anti-malware software and educate users to prevent malware attacks.

Uploaded by

Kap MP
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Cyber Edu Malware

CYBER EDU

What is Malware?
Malware Defined, Explained, and Explored

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Malware Defined

Malware is the collective name for a number of malicious software variants,


including viruses, ransomware and spyware. Shorthand for malicious software,
malware typically consists of code developed by cyberattackers, designed to cause
extensive damage to data and systems or to gain unauthorized access to a
network. Malware is typically delivered in the form of a link or file over email and
requires the user to click on the link or open the file to execute the malware.

Malware has actually been a threat to individuals and organizations since the early
1970s when the Creeper virus first appeared. Since then, the world has been under
attack from hundreds of thousands of different malware variants, all with the intent
of causing the most disruption and damage as possible.

Prevent Malware Attacks with Zero


Trust Content Disarm &
Reconstruction (CDR)
Learn How

What Can Malware Do?


:
Malware delivers its payload in a number of different ways. From demanding a
ransom to stealing sensitive personal data, cybercriminals are becoming more and
more sophisticated in their methods. The following is a list of some of the more
common malware types and definitions.

Types of Malware:
Virus
Possibly the most common type of malware, viruses attach their malicious code to
clean code and wait for an unsuspecting user or an automated process to execute
them. Like a biological virus, they can spread quickly and widely, causing damage
to the core functionality of systems, corrupting files and locking users out of their
computers. They are usually contained within an executable file.

Worms
Worms get their name from the way they infect systems. Starting from one infected
machine, they weave their way through the network, connecting to consecutive
machines in order to continue the spread of infection. This type of malware can
infect entire networks of devices very quickly.

Spyware
Spyware, as its name suggests, is designed to spy on what a user is doing. Hiding
in the background on a computer, this type of malware will collect information
without the user knowing, such as credit card details, passwords and other sensitive
information.

Trojans
Just like Greek soldiers hid in a giant horse to deliver their attack, this type of
malware hides within or disguises itself as legitimate software. Acting discretely, it
will breach security by creating backdoors that give other malware variants easy
access.

Ransomware
Also known as scareware, ransomware comes with a heavy price. Able to lockdown
networks and lock out users until a ransom is paid, ransomware has targeted some
:
of the biggest organizations in the world today — with expensive results.

How Does Malware Spread?

Each type of malware has its own unique way of causing havoc, and most rely on
user action of some kind. Some strains are delivered over email via a link or
executable file. Others are delivered via instant messaging or social media. Even
mobile phones are vulnerable to attack. It is essential that organizations are aware
of all vulnerabilities so they can lay down an effective line of defense.

How to Protect Against Malware

Now that you understand a little more about malware and the different flavors it
comes in, let's talk about protection. There are actually two areas to consider where
protection is concerned: protective tools and user vigilance. The first is often the
easiest to implement, simply because you can often set and forget best-in-class
protective software that manages and updates itself. Users, on the other hand, can
be prone to temptation ("check out this cool website!") or easily led by other
emotions such as fear ("install this antivirus software immediately"). Education is
key to ensure users are aware of the risk of malware and what they can do to
prevent an attack.

With good user policies in place and the right anti-malware solutions constantly
monitoring the network, email, web requests and other activities that could put your
organization at risk, malware stands less of a chance of delivering its payload.
Forcepoint Zero Trust Content Disarm & Reconstruction (CDR) and Remote
Browser Isolation offer best-in-class malware protection across multiple channels
and is unmatched in security efficacy.
:
Related
Cybersecurity Insiders: Ransomware & Malware Report

File Content Sanitization For Thwarting Malware

The Evolution of Cybersecurity

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Simply Put, Zero Trust CDR Defeats Malware
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