The Many Faces of Malware: Real-World Samples

There’s a good chance that you haven’t seen malware in person. Even if your antivirus software detected malware on a site you visited or clicked on a link that could be dangerous, it will have stopped the infection. You might be wondering what malware looks like. What would I recognize as a malware program?

What You Need To Know About Malware

Many malicious programs, to be honest, don’t even look like they are. For example, a virus may try to hide while infecting other files or computers. A bot is silently sitting on your computer, waiting for orders from the command center to send spam or take part in a DDoS attack against a major website. Trojans on the other hand, look legitimate and useful programs. They hide behind a pretentious facade to steal your personal information. Ransomware is a nasty threat that tries to get your attention.

All of these variants have been encountered as I am gathering and analysing new samples for my hands on malware protection tests. I begin with thousands of malware-hosting URLs. Then, I download their malicious payloads and run them through their paces. I am a fool in the testing process, opening unknown files, clicking through to allow them to install, and giving them permissions if they ask. Here are some of the strange things I encountered while searching for the best samples.

Another thing: You might not expect malware-like features from some of the items below. They have all been verified by the VirusTotal website. Each sample was submitted with its unique fingerprint to the VirusTotal Database. It listed the 70 antivirus engines that had identified the file as malware in return. At least 40 antivirus engines flagged all of the programs in this list.

Ransomware: The Horror of Ransomware

You won’t notice a ransomware attack on your computer until it is too late. Ransomware quietly encrypts your files, hidden from your view. The ransom note of the malware demands your attention after the ransomware has done its dirty work. The ransom note promises that you will get your files back if you pay the ransom, usually in Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency. However, if they run away with your money, there is no recourse. Ransomware is something you don’t want to come across.

Maze, a ransomware that demands you pay a ransom to see its ransom note. It takes control of your entire desktop to grab your attention. To prove that it is possible, this ransomware offers to decrypt one file for you, in order to get you to pay.

Screen locker malware does not encrypt your files.

It simply covers up the desktop and all program, so that you can’t use it. These attacks often claim come from law enforcement and demand that you pay a penalty in untraceable money. Sometimes, it is possible to call the ransomware’s bluff using basic recovery methods. This example is more difficult and much more ugly. Even though I used Yandex Translate to translate the image, there wasn’t a demand for ransom. It’s not easy to escape its clutches.

It’s not worth the pain of having your computer access blocked. Maybe it’s more pleasant to have it done well. Although the screen locker is just as ineffective as the ugly, it does give you flowers and an anime girl. This one was easy for me, as the perpetrators might have expected. The filename is ForNowLock.exe and not ForeverLock.exe.

Call SpartanTec, Inc. now if you’re interested in getting managed IT services to protect your systems against malware and other types of threats.

SpartanTec, Inc.
Florence, SC 29501
843-396-8762
http://manageditservicesflorence.com

Serving: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Florence, Charleston

Why Malware Poses The Biggest Threat To Businesses?

Worms, viruses, spyware, and Trojan horse. You’re probably familiar with a few of the most common security threats to businesses. Even if they have different names, they all fall under one category, a malicious software called malware. Knowing what this threat is and how it works is the first step to preventing it from bring your business down. With an expert IT team help your company, you can protect your business against malware.

What is malware?

Malware includes any software program that is created to carry out unauthorized actions on the computer, smartphone or tablet of another user. Here are a few things you need to know.

• -       There are over 5,000 malware attacks every day.
• -       It takes 25 days to resolve an average malware attack.
• -       A malware attack costs the affected business at least $3 million.
• -       More than 60% of the legitimate but compromised websites expose computers to malware.

How does malware work?

There are several ways a malware can disrupt a small business. A malware can do any of the following:

• -       Take full control of all the software running on your computer
• -       Take over your computer
• -       Change or delete all your files
• -       Steal confidential information
• -       Send malicious emails
• -       Install pop up messages that says your computer has been compromised
• -       Reformat your system and cause loss of information

Types of Malware

Trojan Horse – it is by far the most malicious type of malware. It is designed to make the user believe that they are using a secure program like an anti-virus scan. But what they don’t know is that they are programmed to steal financial and personal data. They will not just infect your device but also break into websites and change them so they could have more victims.

Virus – it is a type of code that can replicate, infects a software, and spread throughout the computer and even other computers that share the software.

Worms – it is a kind of malicious device that can replicate itself throughout the computer and destroy the information including the data files that are on saved on the PC of the host.

Adware – it is a type of software that gives adverts to the computer of their target. The advertisements are programmed to monitor the internet sites that their target visits frequently and to display related ads on them.

Spyware – it is a malicious software that will infiltrate your device and spy on you by monitoring your activities online. This will allow the cybercriminal to gather as much information about your system without your knowledge.

Ransomware – it is an advance type of malware that is capable of restricting access to a computer system until the user pays the ransom. A popup will appear on the screen that warns the user that he or she has been locked out of their system. Unless the user pays the ransom, he or she won’t have access to the computer.

Mobile malware – it is a malicious software that can infiltrate computers system through apps via social media and email.

Call SpartanTec, Inc. if you are looking for a team of IT experts who can help you set up the most effective cybersecurity measures that can protect your company against all kinds of malware.

SpartanTec, Inc.
Florence, SC 29501
843-396-8762
http://manageditservicesflorence.com