The word malware means malicious software, a code deliberately designed to corrupt computers. Computers are designed to store, process, and use data based on user commands or set rules. As machines, they have their own languages, such as Python, C++, JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. These languages are used to command the device to perform a calculation or calculative operation.
Understanding the Malware With a Hyper-Realistic Example
For example, when we order something online, a system recognises the payment methods we use, another part adds the product to a virtual cart, and another part notifies the shop admin that an order has been placed. The admin gets the online payment confirmation and starts the delivery process.
In this scenario, there are two parties: one party sells a product online, and the other buys it. The buyer needs to pay the price exclusively to the seller. The system has a payment gateway that recognises a bank account number, collects a certain amount (the net price of the product with fees included) from that account, and deposits the money into the seller’s account. The entire process in real life may be much more complex or sophisticated; this is the core of this specific operation, often called payment processing.
In this scenario, the system doesn’t know who ordered a product in person; it only recognises numbers. If a third-party intruder can manipulate the system to deposit all the payments into his own account, he could be making easy money for a while. Though this will not run for long as the business owner will eventually get a clue, in the gap of the time when an intruder gets access to the system and the owner gets a hint, a substantial amount can be stolen, and the damage is done.
However, the owner immediately stopped the online order option. A team of IT experts from a nearby firm helped him restore control, and the shop was delivering online again.
In the world of cybersecurity, the intruder who broke into the system is a hacker. The software that he used to manipulate the system (changing the deposit account number) is malware. The time the business could not serve the customers online because of this incident is downtime, and the incident is known as a cyber attack.
If you look carefully, the primary tool that caused this accident is software that helped the hacker acquire illegitimate access to the system. This kind of software is not very good. In cybersecurity, such software is called malware or malicious software.
The Diversity of Cyber Eco-System and Malware
As the world is diverse, so are the kinds of businesses and the ways they process, store, or use data. Cyber attacks are also not bound to online stores. From state-level websites to NASA computers, from small businesses to the world’s largest enterprises, have suffered cyber attacks. If you dive deep, the numbers are haunting to some extent. According to a survey done by international data analysts at statista.com, nearly 4000 new cyber attacks occur every day. Every 14 seconds, a company falls victim to a ransomware attack, which can result in devastating financial losses, while 560,000 new malware variants are detected daily.
How to Protect Your Devices and Cyber Systems From Malware?
The first step is to recognise cyber threats and accept that no business is immune to them. Each company bears a specific degree of cyber risks based on the data it handles. The risk meter goes high if the data is personal and highly confidential.
Confidential data means the data can be used to cause financial, social, or any other damages. The more power the data has, the more confidential it becomes.
All data, including our personal phone number, bank account details, and Facebook password, can be referred to as data, just like telling people your name and bank account number is not the same; types of cyberthreats are not always the same either.
Malware is designed to manipulate a system in different ways based on the characteristics of different computer systems. Understanding how malware enters and manipulates a system empowers individuals to recognise warning signs early and reduce personal and organisational cyber risks. In the next section, we will discuss 5 types of malware used for different types of cyber crimes, the way they enter a system, and how they manipulate it.
- Computer Virus
A computer virus is like a digital parasite. It attaches itself to a clean file or program and spreads when it is opened or shared. Just like a flu virus needs a human host to move from one person to another, a computer virus needs a user to help it unknowingly spread.
Once inside the system, it can corrupt files, slow operations, or even delete important data. It often comes bundled with something that looks harmless — maybe a file sent over email or a software you downloaded from the internet. If the infected file is opened, the virus activates and starts replicating itself, infecting other files on the device or spreading to other systems through networks.
- Worms
Worms work a bit differently from viruses. They don’t need any help from a person to spread. Once they enter a system — often through a weak spot in a network — they start duplicating themselves and moving from one computer to another all on their own. Imagine a thief who doesn’t just break into your house but also into your neighbour’s house, then your friend’s, and so on — all without anyone opening the door for them. Worms can cause massive damage because they spread quickly and eat up system resources, leading to slow performance or total system crashes. They can also be programmed to steal data or drop more malware into your system once inside.
- Trojans
A Trojan, named after the famous Greek story of the Trojan horse, is a malware that tricks users by pretending to be something useful or harmless. It could be a game, a document, or a free tool you downloaded from a trusted site. But behind the friendly appearance is a hidden code meant to open a backdoor to your system. Once inside, hackers can watch your screen, steal your data, or even take control of your computer remotely. What makes Trojans tricky is that they rely on trust; they don’t force their way in and wait for someone to let them in without knowing what’s happening.
- Ransomware
Ransomware is one of the scariest types of malware. It locks your files or your entire system and demands a ransom to unlock it, usually in cryptocurrency. You can’t access your files, documents, or photos, and a message appears on your screen asking you to pay within a particular time or risk losing everything. Businesses hit by ransomware can go offline for hours or even days, losing money and customer trust. And even if you pay, there’s no guarantee the attacker will give access back. It’s like someone breaking into your home, locking up your belongings in a safe, and then charging you to give back the key.
- Adware
Adware is a bit less harmful than the others, but still very annoying. It shows you unwanted ads that sometimes pop up suddenly, sometimes flood your browser. You may notice your device slowing down or your browser acting strangely. Some adware tracks your online behaviour to show more “targeted” ads, which raises privacy concerns. While some adware comes bundled with free apps as a way for developers to earn money, others are sneaky and install themselves without permission. Even if they don’t steal your data, they can still affect how well your device works and make your online experience frustrating.
