Malware, spyware, ransomware, adware, trojans, worms, and co. are flooding the internet… All sorts of malicious software are hovering over your devices, waiting for you to make a mistake and swoop down on the prey: your passwords, data, and personal information.
In Q1 this year, Avira detected 323,951,259 threats, out of which 213,456,857 are malware. Avira reports show an increase in malware in Q1 by 110.68% compared to the previous quarter.
Many people mistakenly think that an antivirus is enough to keep their data safe, password123 is strong enough to protect personal information, or their data is not all that important for cyber attackers to hack their accounts. Whether the hacker gets in through the back door or the front door it is a matter of logistics. You always have to stay vigilant for the risks. And here they are.
Common types of cybersecurity attacks and hacking
Malware is the global terminus for all malicious categories, except virus. Rootkits, Trojans, spyware, adware, worms, and browser-hijacks are all malware.
Here is a short definition of each of the most frequent malicious attacks:
Virus is a code injection in other applications and replicate or infect other devices upon its execution and searches for other files
Trojans are malicious programs that misrepresent themselves to appear routine or helpful but actually carry out hidden functions.
Worm is an application that is able to spread its variants to other devices through shared drives, external storage, local network, or the internet. In most cases, malware components like Trojans will be sideloaded.
Phishing emails are fraudulent emails that look as if they were sent by a reliable company or a person you know—such as PayPal, your bank, or your friend. They might contain a form for you to complete or include a link to a counterfeit web page, which looks just like the real deal.
Ransomware is malicious software that encrypts the hard disk of the infected system. After an attack, you won’t be able to access the data—forever, or until you pay for a code to decrypt your own data again.
Spyware is a type of malware that infiltrates your device and collects and shares personal information about your computer or network.
Adware is short for “advertising software,” a program that displays banner ads and pop-ups on your devices without your permission.
Everything you need to know about malware
To fight the danger, you need to know one when you see it. And we get it, a world with malware is tricky to navigate, and we all have questions. That is why we came to your rescue and put together everything you need to know about malware:
- Your malware questions answered
- Location matters; with beverages and malware
- Is your device infected? Scan for malware in 5 easy steps
From these articles, you will find the answers to your malware questions. At the end of this reading, you’ll be able to tell what is malware, what are the most common types of malware, what malware can do, how malware infects a computer, what are the signs of an infected device, and how you can protect yourself against malware.
Best malware protection
Last, but not least, you’ll learn about the best free malware protection. Spoiler alert! Avira offers one of the best free protection against hackers and malware attacks. We packed Avira Free Security with a diverse spectrum of features, so you don’t have to install a different software for each need. Avira Free Security has them all. It integrates a range of security, privacy, and performance features in an all-in-one, easy-to-use solution. And it’s completely free of charge.
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