Malware

• Malware

  • Malware is malicious software (software that can harm devices)
  • It is installed on someone’s device without their knowledge and consent
• Typical actions of malware

  • Deleting or modifying files 
  • Scareware - e.g. scareware tells the user their computer is infected with many viruses to scare them into following malicious links or paying for problems to be fixed
  • Locking files 
  • Spyware 
  • Rootkits 
  • Opening backdoors
• What is scareware

  Tactics used by malware to scare the user of the computer into following malicious links or paying to fix a problem
• What does locking files involve

  • This is where ransomware encrypts all the files on a computer 
  • The user receives a message demanding a large sum of money be paid in exchange for a decryption key
• What is spyware

  Malware that secretly monitors the users actions (e.g. key presses) and sends information to the hacker
• What do rootkits do

  They alter permissions, giving malware and hackers administrator-level access to devices
• What are backdoors

  They are holes in someone's security which can be used for future attacks
• Different ways malware can access your device

  • Viruses 
  • Worms 
  • Trojans
• How do viruses allow malware to access your device

  • Viruses attach to certain files (by copying themselves) e.g. .exe files and autorun scripts 
  • Users spread them by copying infected files and activate them by opening infected files
• How do worms allow malware to access your device

  • Worms are like viruses but they self-replicate without any user help (unlike viruses) , meaning they can spread very quickly 
  • They exploit weaknesses in network security
• How do trojans allow malware to access your device

  • Trojans are malware disguised as legitimate software 
  • Unlike viruses and worms, malware don’t replicate themselves - users install them not realising they have a hidden purpose