What Is Malware? How To Remove Malware From Computer System

  Category:  MALWARE | 3rd February 2022 | Author:  CSI TEAM

Malware Is A Malicious Program And Malware Is A File Or Code, Typically Delivered Over A Computer Network, That Affects, Explores Thefts Or Conducts Virtually Any Behaviour An Attack Wants. Malware Is Malign Software To Target The Client’s Computer System For Gaining Others Resources For Their Own Goals. However, Malware Creates Disruption To A Computer, Server, Client Or computer Network, Leak Private Information, Gain Unauthorized Access To Information Or Computer Systems, Deprive Access To Information, Or Which Unknowingly Interferes With The User’s Computer Security And Privacy.

Malware Is Short For "malicious Software," Which Refers To Any Type Of Software Designed With Malicious Intent To Cause Harm To A Computer, Device, Or Network. Malware Can Take Many Different Forms, Including viruses, worms, Trojans, ransomware, spyware, adware, And More.

Malware Can Be Used To Steal Sensitive Information Such As Passwords, Financial Information, And Personal Data, Or To Disrupt The Normal Functioning Of A Computer Or Network. Some Malware Can Also Use Infected Devices To Launch Attacks On Other Computers Or Networks, Or To Spread Itself To Other Devices.

Malware Can Be Spread Through Various Methods, Such As Through Email Attachments, Infected Software Downloads, Malicious Websites, And More. It's Important To Keep Antivirus Software And Security Software Up-to-date And To Be Cautious When Downloading And Installing Software Or Clicking On Links From Unknown Sources In Order To Minimize The Risk Of Malware Infection.

History Of Malware

The History Of Malware Dates Back To The Earliest Days Of Computing. Here Are Some Key Moments In The Development Of Malware:

1. Creeper (1971): Creeper Was The First Known Computer Virus. It Was Created By Bob Thomas As An Experiment To Demonstrate The Ability Of A Computer Program To Move Across A Network.

2. Brain (1986): Brain Was The First Known PC Virus, Created By Two Brothers In Pakistan. It Spread Through Floppy Disks And Slowed Down Infected Computers.

3. Morris Worm (1988): The Morris Worm Was One Of The First Worms To Spread Over The Internet. It Exploited Vulnerabilities In Unix Systems And Caused Significant Disruption.

4. Michelangelo (1991): The Michelangelo Virus Was Designed To Activate On March 6, The Birthday Of The Artist It Was Named After. It Infected The Boot Sector Of Hard Drives And Could Cause Significant Damage.

5. ILOVEYOU (2000): ILOVEYOU Was A Worm That Spread Through Email Attachments With The Subject Line "ILOVEYOU." It Caused Billions Of Dollars In Damage And Infected Millions Of Computers.

6. Stuxnet (2010): Stuxnet Was A Sophisticated Worm That Targeted Industrial Control Systems, Specifically Those Used In Iran's Nuclear Program. It Was Designed To Disrupt And Destroy Centrifuges Used For Uranium Enrichment.

Today, Malware Is Constantly Evolving And Becoming More Sophisticated. As Technology Advances, So Do The Methods Used To Exploit Vulnerabilities In Computer Systems. As A Result, It Is More Important Than Ever To Stay Vigilant And Use Up-to-date Antivirus And Security Software.

How Many Types Of Malware?

There Are Many Different Types Of Malware, And New Types Are Constantly Being Developed. Some Of The Most Common Types Of Malware Include:

1. Viruses: These Are Programs That Can Replicate Themselves And Infect Other Files On A Computer Or Network. They Can Cause Damage To Files And Programs, Or Steal Data.

2. Worms: These Are Similar To Viruses, But They Can Spread Without Human Intervention, By Exploiting Vulnerabilities In Network Or Software Systems.

3. Trojans: These Are Disguised As Legitimate Software, But Once Installed, They Can Give Attackers Unauthorized Access To A Computer Or Network.

4. Ransomware: This Type Of Malware Can Encrypt Files Or Lock Users Out Of Their Systems, Demanding Payment To Restore Access.

5. Spyware: This Is Designed To Gather Data From A Computer Or Network, Often Without The User's Knowledge, To Spy On Activities, Steal Data, Or Deliver Targeted Ads.

6. Adware: This Is Designed To Deliver Unwanted Ads, Often Through Pop-ups Or Browser Extensions.

7. Rootkits: These Are Designed To Hide Their Presence On A System And Give Attackers Persistent Access To A Computer Or Network.

Other Types Of Malware Include Fileless Malware, Macro Viruses, Botnets, And More. It's Important To Have Up-to-date Antivirus And Security Software To Protect Against All Types Of Malware.

Purposes Of Malware

The Purposes Of Malware Can Vary Depending On The Intentions Of The Attacker. Here Are Some Of The Most Common Purposes Of Malware:

1. Stealing Sensitive Information: Malware Can Be Designed To Steal Personal Or Financial Information Such As Login Credentials, Credit Card Numbers, Or Other Sensitive Data.

2. Disrupting Computer Systems: Malware Can Be Used To Disrupt The Normal Functioning Of A Computer Or Network, Making It Difficult Or Impossible To Use. This Can Cause Significant Damage To Businesses And Individuals.

3. Delivering Targeted Ads: Some Malware Is Designed To Deliver Unwanted Ads Or Collect Data For Targeted Advertising.

4. Ransomware Attacks: Ransomware Is A Type Of Malware That Encrypts Files Or Locks Users Out Of Their Systems, Demanding Payment To Restore Access.

5. Spyware: Malware Can Be Used To Spy On Computer Activities, Including Keystrokes, Emails, And Other Personal Data.

6. Generating Income: Some Malware Is Designed To Generate Income For The Attacker, Either Through Bitcoin Mining Or Other Means.

7. Exploiting Vulnerabilities: Malware Can Exploit Vulnerabilities In Computer Systems Or Networks, Allowing Attackers To Gain Unauthorized Access, Control, Or Privileges.

The Purposes Of Malware Can Also Vary Depending On The Attacker's Motivations, Which Can Range From Financial Gain To Political Or Social Objectives. Regardless Of The Purpose, Malware Can Have Serious Consequences For Individuals And Organizations, Making It Important To Take Steps To Protect Against These Threats.

First Program Of A Malware

The First Known Computer Program That Could Be Considered Malware Was A Program Called "Creeper," Which Was Developed In The Early 1970s. Creeper Was A Self-replicating Program That Was Designed To Infect DEC PDP-10 Computers Running The TENEX Operating System.

Creeper Was Not Developed With Malicious Intent, But Was Rather Created As An Experiment To Test The Ability Of A Program To Move Between Computers On A Network. The Program Was Written By Bob Thomas, Who Was Working At BBN Technologies At The Time.

The Creeper Program Would Move Between Computers On The Network, Displaying The Message "I'm The Creeper, Catch Me If You Can!" On Each Infected Computer's Screen. Another Program Called "Reaper" Was Developed To Remove Creeper From Infected Systems.

While Creeper Was Not Created With Malicious Intent, It Demonstrated The Potential For Self-replicating Programs To Cause Harm And Paved The Way For The Development Of More Advanced Types Of Malware In The Years That Followed.

Is A Malware A Virus?

Malware And Viruses Are Related, But They Are Not The Same Thing. Malware Is An Umbrella Term That Includes Many Different Types Of Malicious Software, While A Virus Is A Specific Type Of Malware That Is Capable Of Replicating Itself And Infecting Other Files.

Viruses Are A Specific Type Of Malware That Attach Themselves To Executable Files, And Once A User Runs The Infected File, The Virus Can Then Spread To Other Files On The Computer Or Network. Viruses Can Cause A Variety Of Problems, Such As Stealing Data, Corrupting Files, And Causing Computer Crashes.

Malware, On The Other Hand, Is A More General Term That Can Refer To Any Type Of Software That Is Designed To Cause Harm Or Gain Unauthorized Access To A Computer System. Other Types Of Malware Include Worms, Trojans, Ransomware, Spyware, And Adware.

While Viruses Are Just One Type Of Malware, They Are Often Used As A General Term To Describe Any Type Of Malicious Software. It's Important To Have Up-to-date Antivirus And Security Software To Protect Against All Types Of Malware, Including Viruses.

How To Protect Computer System From Malware?

Protecting Your Computer System From Malware Is Essential To Keeping Your Data And Personal Information Safe. Here Are Some Steps You Can Take To Help Protect Your Computer System From Malware:

1. Install And Update Antivirus And Security Software: Antivirus And Security Software Can Help Detect And Remove Malware From Your Computer. It's Important To Keep This Software Up To Date, As New Malware Is Constantly Being Developed.

2. Use A Strong, Unique Password: Use Strong, Unique Passwords For All Your Online Accounts And Change Them Regularly. Consider Using A Password Manager To Keep Track Of Your Passwords.

3. Keep Your Operating System And Software Up To Date: Keeping Your Operating System And Software Up To Date Can Help Protect Against Known Vulnerabilities That Attackers May Exploit.

4. Use A Firewall: A firewall Can Help Block Unauthorized Access To Your Computer And Network.

5. Be Cautious Of Suspicious Emails And Attachments: Be Careful When Opening Emails Or Attachments From Unknown Senders, As They May Contain Malware. Don't Click On Links Or Download Attachments From Emails You Weren't Expecting.

6. Use A Pop-up Blocker: A Pop-up Blocker Can Help Prevent Pop-ups And Ads From Appearing On Your Computer Screen, Which Can Sometimes Be Used To Deliver Malware.

7. Be Careful When Downloading Software: Only Download Software From Trusted Sources, And Be Wary Of Free Software Offers That Seem Too Good To Be True.

8. Backup Your Data: Regularly Back Up Your Important Data To An External Hard Drive Or Cloud Storage Service, So That You Can Recover It In Case Of A Malware Attack.

By Following These Steps, You Can Help Protect Your Computer System From Malware And Keep Your Personal Information And Data Safe.

Is Malware Influence Of The Email?

Yes, Malware Can Influence Email In A Variety Of Ways. Malware Can Be Transmitted Through Email Attachments, Links, Or Other Types Of Content That Are Delivered To Email Inboxes. Malware Can Be Hidden In Seemingly Innocent Attachments, Such As A PDF Or A Word Document, Or In Links That Appear To Be From A Legitimate Source.

Once A User Clicks On An Infected Attachment Or Link, The Malware Can Then Infect The User's Computer And Potentially Spread To Other Computers On The Same Network. Malware Can Also Be Used To Steal Email Login Credentials, Giving Attackers Access To The User's Email Account And Potentially Sensitive Information Contained In The Account.

In Addition, Malware Can Be Used To Create Spam And Phishing Emails, Which Are Designed To Trick Users Into Divulging Personal Information Or Downloading Additional Malware Onto Their Computers.

To Protect Against Malware In Email, It's Important To Be Cautious When Opening Emails Or Attachments From Unknown Senders. It's Also A Good Idea To Use Spam Filters And Antivirus Software To Help Detect And Block Malicious Emails And Attachments. Regularly Updating Your Operating System And Software Can Also Help Protect Against Known Vulnerabilities That Attackers May Exploit To Deliver Malware Through Email.

Summary Of Malware

Malware Is A Type Of Software That Is Designed To Harm Computer Systems Or Gain Unauthorized Access To Them. There Are Many Different Types Of Malware, Including Viruses, Worms, Trojans, Ransomware, Spyware, And Adware. Malware Can Cause A Variety Of Problems, Such As Stealing Data, Corrupting Files, And Causing Computer Crashes.

The First Known Computer Program That Could Be Considered Malware Was A Self-replicating Program Called Creeper, Which Was Developed In The Early 1970s. Malware Has Evolved Significantly Since Then, And It Continues To Be A Major Threat To Computer Security.

To Protect Against Malware, It's Important To Use Antivirus And Security Software, Use Strong Passwords, Keep Operating Systems And Software Up To Date, Use A Firewall, Be Cautious Of Suspicious Emails And Attachments, Use A Pop-up Blocker, Be Careful When Downloading Software, And Backup Your Data.

Malware Can Also Influence Email, As It Can Be Transmitted Through Email Attachments, Links, Or Other Types Of Content. To Protect Against Malware In Email, It's Important To Be Cautious When Opening Emails Or Attachments From Unknown Senders, Use Spam Filters And Antivirus Software, And Regularly Update Your Operating System And Software.