What is malicious software?

 

What is malicious software? 

"Malicious Software" is now called "Malware," but it still means the same thing. Malicious software is any programme that is designed to cause damage to a computer system or network. Malicious Malware Software like viruses, worms, trojans, spyware, adware, or rootkits attack a computer or network.
Their goal is usually to do something illegal, like steal protected data, delete confidential documents, or add software without the user's permission.

Malicious software, or malware, is software that is designed to harm or exploit computer systems. There many types of malware, including viruses, worms, trojan horses, ransomware, and spyware. Some common ways that malware can be spread include through email attachments, downloads from the internet, and by taking advantage of vulnerabilities in software. Malware can cause a variety of problems, such as stealing personal information, deleting files, and disrupting the normal operation of a computer. It is important to protect your computer by using security software, keeping your operating system and other software up to date, and being careful about the websites you visit and the emails you open.

Different Types of Malicious Software

Types of malicious software, including:

1. Viruses: A virus is a type of malware that can replicate itself and spread from one computer to another. It is usually spread through email attachments or by downloading infected files from the internet. A computer virus is bad software that copies itself and sticks to other files and programs. It can run in the background when the host programs or file is run. Memory-Resident Virus, Program File Virus, Boot Sector Virus, Stealth Virus, Macro Virus, and Email Virus are the different kinds of computer viruses.

   Worms: " A worm is a type of malware that can replicate itself and spread to other computers without the need for a human to take any action, such as clicking a link or downloading an attachment".

   

   
   

   
   

   A worm is a piece of malicious software that acts like a computer virus in that it can copy itself and spread to other computers. However, unlike a virus, a worm can run by itself. Worms spread across a network and can launch a difficult and destructive attack in a short amount of time.                                                                                                                                                                               Trojan horses:                                                                                                                             A trojan horse is a type of malware that is disguised as legitimate software and is often spread through email attachments or by downloading infected files from the internet. Once it is installed, it can allow an attacker to gain access to a victim's computer and steal personal information or perform other malicious actions.

                                                            Unlike a computer virus or worm, a trojan horse is a program that doesn't copy itself and looks like it should be safe. After getting people to trust it, it does bad and illegal things behind their backs when it is run. Hackers use trojan horses to steal a user's password information or to destroy data or programs on the hard disc. It's hard to find out! Ransomware: Ransomware is a type of malware that that is made to gather information about someone or something without their knowledge encrypts a victim's files and demands a payment (ransom) in exchange for the decryption key. Spyware: Spyware is a type of malware that is designed to collect information about a person or organization without their knowledge. It can be installed on a computer through email attachments or by downloading infected files from the internet, and it can be used to track online activity, steal personal information, and display unwanted advertising. Spyware records information about a user without their knowledge and sends it to other people. The information collected could be about the files a user opens on the computer, what they do online, or even what they type on the keyboard. Adware, as its name suggests, shows banner ads while a program is running. Adware can also do the same thing as spyware, which is to gather private information. Basically, to use a victim's computer to spy on them and get information from them. Adware: Adware is a type of malware that displays unwanted advertising on a victim's computer. It often comes with other program and can be hard to get of. Rootkits: A rootkit is a type of malware that is designed to gain administrative control of a computer without the owner's knowledge. It can be used to perform a variety of malicious actions, such as stealing personal information, spying on the user, and disrupting the normal operation of the computer. A rootkit is malicious software that changes the way an OS works on a computer without being noticed. The changes help the hacker take full control of the system, and the hacker acts as the system administrator on the victim's system. Almost all rootkits are made to hide the fact that they exist.