Difference between revisions of "Malicious software"
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| − | '''Malicious software''' (or '''malware'''), often generically called a virus, is [[computer]] [[software]] which deliberately does something harmful to a computer or other digital device.<ref>malware. Dictionary.com. [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/malware http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/malware], (accessed: July 13, 2011).</ref> Once downloaded, malware can be passed from one computer to another. Malware is usually downloaded to a computer by hiding inside rogue (and sometimes legitimate) software packages: the ''Trojan horse'' (or ''Trojan'').<ref>Definition: [http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/Trojan-horse Trojan horse], searchsecurity.techtarget.com, (Accessed July 13, 2011).</ref><ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,307602,00.html Apple Macintoshes Targeted by Porn-Based Computer Virus], [[Fox News|FOXNews.com]], November 02, 2007.</ref> | + | '''Malicious software''' (or '''malware'''), often generically called a virus, is [[computer]] [[software]] which deliberately does something harmful or otherwise abusive to a computer or other digital device.<ref>malware. Dictionary.com. [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/malware http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/malware], (accessed: July 13, 2011).</ref> Once downloaded, malware can be passed from one computer to another. Malware is usually downloaded to a computer by hiding inside rogue (and sometimes legitimate) software packages: the ''Trojan horse'' (or ''Trojan'').<ref>Definition: [http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/Trojan-horse Trojan horse], searchsecurity.techtarget.com, (Accessed July 13, 2011).</ref><ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,307602,00.html Apple Macintoshes Targeted by Porn-Based Computer Virus], [[Fox News|FOXNews.com]], November 02, 2007.</ref> |
==Symptoms== | ==Symptoms== | ||
| − | If an [[operating system]] (such as [[Windows]], or [[Mac OS]]) gets infected by malware, it could cause the loss of important files; business files, digital music and movies, and pictures could be destroyed by a single infection.<ref>''The Mac Security Blog''. [http://blog.intego.com/2008/12/04/do-you-need-an-antivirus-for-your-mac-definitely-yes/ Do You Need an Antivirus for Your Mac? Definitely, Yes.], blog.intego.com, December 4, 2008.</ref> The malware may use the infected computer to generate revenue (by displaying advertisements, farming private information, or mining [[cryptocurrency]], for example) or simply cause damage. Malware can also interfere with industrial processes, infrastructure, and other business processes if it has access to related devices. | + | If an [[operating system]] (such as [[Windows]], or [[Mac OS]]) gets infected by malware, it could cause the loss of important files; business files, digital music and movies, and pictures could be destroyed by a single infection.<ref>''The Mac Security Blog''. [http://blog.intego.com/2008/12/04/do-you-need-an-antivirus-for-your-mac-definitely-yes/ Do You Need an Antivirus for Your Mac? Definitely, Yes.], blog.intego.com, December 4, 2008.</ref> The malware may use the infected computer to generate revenue (by displaying advertisements, farming private information, or mining [[cryptocurrency]], for example) or simply cause damage. Malware can also interfere with industrial processes, infrastructure, and other business processes if it has access to related devices. In some other cases, malware has no interest in the host computer, but rather performs various tasks (such as DDoS attacks and spamming) as a bot for the malware publisher. |
===Infectious Mobile Devices=== | ===Infectious Mobile Devices=== | ||
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Since the iOS is shared across all Mac devices, malware targeting this operating system will sometimes lay dormant until it is connected to another device. For example, one kind of malware will infect an iPhone but remain dormant. Once it is connected to a MacBook (through a wired or wireless connection) it infects that. The malware will also infect any other iOS device available, such as an iPod or iPad. After a time, it can gather information from every device the individual owns, essentially stealing their entire online (and quite possibly real) identity. Such malware is sometimes used by hackers to open a back door into these devices so they can manually lock the entire set of devices and copy everything off of them. | Since the iOS is shared across all Mac devices, malware targeting this operating system will sometimes lay dormant until it is connected to another device. For example, one kind of malware will infect an iPhone but remain dormant. Once it is connected to a MacBook (through a wired or wireless connection) it infects that. The malware will also infect any other iOS device available, such as an iPod or iPad. After a time, it can gather information from every device the individual owns, essentially stealing their entire online (and quite possibly real) identity. Such malware is sometimes used by hackers to open a back door into these devices so they can manually lock the entire set of devices and copy everything off of them. | ||
| − | === | + | ===Types=== |
| − | + | ====General==== | |
| + | *[[Computer virus|Virus]] | ||
| + | *[[Trojan Horse (malware)|Trojan]] | ||
| + | *[[Computer worm|Worm]] | ||
| + | *Bot | ||
| + | *Remote Access Trojan (RAT) | ||
| + | *Rootkit | ||
| + | |||
| + | ====Specific==== | ||
| + | *[[Spyware]] | ||
| + | **Credential stealers | ||
| + | *[[Adware]] | ||
| + | *Backdoors | ||
| + | *Anti-Analysis | ||
| + | *Loader/Downloader | ||
| + | *Scareware (rogue software that claims to serve a legitimate purpose, usually pretending to be security software) | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 20:54, October 31, 2017
Malicious software (or malware), often generically called a virus, is computer software which deliberately does something harmful or otherwise abusive to a computer or other digital device.[1] Once downloaded, malware can be passed from one computer to another. Malware is usually downloaded to a computer by hiding inside rogue (and sometimes legitimate) software packages: the Trojan horse (or Trojan).[2][3]
Symptoms
If an operating system (such as Windows, or Mac OS) gets infected by malware, it could cause the loss of important files; business files, digital music and movies, and pictures could be destroyed by a single infection.[4] The malware may use the infected computer to generate revenue (by displaying advertisements, farming private information, or mining cryptocurrency, for example) or simply cause damage. Malware can also interfere with industrial processes, infrastructure, and other business processes if it has access to related devices. In some other cases, malware has no interest in the host computer, but rather performs various tasks (such as DDoS attacks and spamming) as a bot for the malware publisher.
Infectious Mobile Devices
Android and Apple iOS mobile operating systems are vulnerable to malicious code as well. This can come from PDF files,[5][6] applications, and a variety of other sources. This malware may affect the infected device, or it could act as an asymptomatic carrier, allowing cybercriminals to access confidential information on in or other devices connected to it, intercept phone conversations or take over other aspects of the infected device.
Mac Malware
While Mac malware is scarcer than Windows malware, over the last ten years threats targeting Mac OS X have been on the rise and have become more sophisticated.[7] In addition, Macs can pass on files that contain malware to Windows users. For this reason, a layered approach to security is the best defense, including the use of a firewall and Mac antivirus that detects and stops Windows viruses as well as Mac malware.
Since the iOS is shared across all Mac devices, malware targeting this operating system will sometimes lay dormant until it is connected to another device. For example, one kind of malware will infect an iPhone but remain dormant. Once it is connected to a MacBook (through a wired or wireless connection) it infects that. The malware will also infect any other iOS device available, such as an iPod or iPad. After a time, it can gather information from every device the individual owns, essentially stealing their entire online (and quite possibly real) identity. Such malware is sometimes used by hackers to open a back door into these devices so they can manually lock the entire set of devices and copy everything off of them.
Types
General
Specific
- Spyware
- Credential stealers
- Adware
- Backdoors
- Anti-Analysis
- Loader/Downloader
- Scareware (rogue software that claims to serve a legitimate purpose, usually pretending to be security software)
References
- ↑ malware. Dictionary.com. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/malware, (accessed: July 13, 2011).
- ↑ Definition: Trojan horse, searchsecurity.techtarget.com, (Accessed July 13, 2011).
- ↑ Apple Macintoshes Targeted by Porn-Based Computer Virus, FOXNews.com, November 02, 2007.
- ↑ The Mac Security Blog. Do You Need an Antivirus for Your Mac? Definitely, Yes., blog.intego.com, December 4, 2008.
- ↑ Amy Gahran. iPhone, iPad users: Watch out for malicious PDF files, CNN, July 11, 2011.
- ↑ The Mac Security Blog. iOS PDF Vulnerability Creates Security Risks, Allows Easy Jailbreaks, blog.intego.com, July 7, 2011.
- ↑ 10 Years of Mac Malware: How OS X Threats Have Evolved (Infographic)
See also
- Tails (operating system) (Linux-based) and Tor (anonymity network) Firefox browser encryption for Internet anonymity to protect unalienable rights
- Botnet