Sciextor

Malware

Malware is a term that refers to any software that is designed to harm, disrupt, or access a computer, device, or network without the user’s consent or knowledge.

Malware can include viruses, worms, trojans, ransomware, spyware, adware, and other malicious programs

Malware can cause various problems, such as slowing down the device, displaying unwanted ads, stealing personal or financial information, encrypting or deleting data, or allowing remote control by hackers.

Some statistics for Malware are

• In 2021, there were 5.4 billion malware attacks worldwide, a slight decrease from 5.6 billion in 2020
• The most prevalent types of malware in 2021 were trojans (58%), worms (17%), and ransomware (7%)
• The most targeted industries by malware in 2021 were education, government, and healthcare
• The average cost of a malware attack for a business was $2.6 million in 2021
• The most common malware attack vectors in 2021 were websites (35%), email (32%), and removable media (9%)
• The most common types of cyber threats in 2021 were phishing (72%), malware (36%), and ransomware (27%)
• The US reported the highest number of malware infections in 2021, followed by India, Japan, Taiwan, and Ukraine
• Iran had the highest mobile malware infection rate in 2021, at 30.3%, followed by Algeria, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Indonesia

What can you do

• Install and use anti-malware software on your devices, and update it regularly4. You can find recommendations from independent review sites or ask friends and family for suggestions
• Keep all your other software up to date, especially your operating system, browser, and applications4. This can help you fix any security vulnerabilities that malware might exploit
• Use strong passwords and passphrases for your accounts and devices, and change them periodically6. You can also use a password manager to store and generate secure passwords for you
• Be careful when downloading anything from the internet, especially from unknown or untrusted sources4. You can use a search engine or a bookmark to find the website you want to visit, instead of typing the URL directly into the browser
• Check the spelling and the domain extension of the website you are visiting, and look for a valid security certificate5. You can check this by looking for a padlock icon and https:// at the beginning of the URL
• Be wary of opening or downloading attachments or clicking on links in emails, text messages, or social media posts4. These may be phishing attempts that try to lure you into a malware-infected website5. Always verify the sender and the source of the message, and do not provide any personal or financial information on the website
• Avoid using public or unsecured Wi-Fi networks, especially for online banking or shopping6. You can use a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt your internet traffic and protect your online activity from hackers