How Malware Works
Malware is commonly known as the black hat technique, derived from the word malware itself. Malware is essentially the codename for any type of malicious software, which includes worms, viruses, adware, malware, and more. In particular, ransomware, the most harmful form of malware that steals data from its victims, has increased dramatically in the past couple of years, with recent estimates showing that some 40% of businesses suffered Malware attacks during a three-month period. In addition, many experts believe that Malware may be responsible for a significant percentage of internet server downtime.
However, given the large number of malware programs and the sophistication of their creators’ skills, it is often difficult to determine if a Malware attack is real or not. There are several common characteristics of malware which makes it hard to tell if an infection is malicious or not. Most malware is self-contained and requires no downloads or links from outside sources in order to complete installation. Furthermore, all Malware programs exhibit a similar sort of command and control structure, which includes hidden commands & codes that activate various aspects of the infected computer, reporting back to their creators when certain events occur. It is for these reasons that experts advise that users not trust Malware threats but rather go for a well-thought-out-layered approach to combating the issue.
Experts also suggest using two different Malware removal tools for the purpose of detecting, removing, and preventing the installation of additional Malware on your PC. While there are several common types of Malware, not all of them are created equal – hence the need for a well-rounded tool. The main issue is how a typical virus spreads through a PC, and while there isn’t a single definition for it, there are several common types of Malware that do the trick. Some of the more common types of Malware include: Trojan horses, email viruses, password thieves, fake antivirus scans, keyloggers, and DLL malware. Each of these has varying effects and removal requirements, depending on the infection, so it is important to know exactly what you’re up against before attempting to remove any of them. Here is a list of the most common types of Malware that infecting many computers on a regular basis: Trojan horses – these are typically bundled with other Malware and can be disguised as an application or even as a legitimate file/audio on your computer.
Cloud Infrastructure Malware
A type of Malware which operates on the ‘network infrastructure’ of a Web Hosting provider, Cloud Infrastructure Malware corrupts internal files & configuration settings and makes it impossible to access the website. Common causes of Cloud Infrastructure Malware include: leaks in Cloud server clusters, data corruption due to poorly written code, the use of weak passwords, and server administrator error messages. In order to stop the spread and execution of Cloud Infrastructure Malware, you may want to disable your web hosting service, change your passwords, remove any Cloud files from your computer, or request cloud assistance. There are also additional Web Hosting related Malware tools available to help combat Cloud Infrastructure Malware.
Managed Services Tools – A form of Malware that deploys itself as a database manager and manipulates the physical structure of your server. It’s usually run directly by a web browser or as part of the PHP engine in your web server. These Managed Services Tools can be extremely dangerous and should be treated as a threat to your computer system. Common uses for Managed Services Tools include: monitoring of Internet traffic to your site, stealing personal information, reporting security or compatibility issues, or sending spam to your email box.
In-House Malware
Also known as “In house Malware” or “In house scripts”, Malware purchased and installed from Malware publishers may have the same effect as Malware downloaded from Malware sites. Malware written for use in your home computer may come with tracking information which may be sent back to the distributor. Additionally, Malware running as background services can be difficult to remove from your computer. If you have installed Microsoft Office applications, you may want to contact the company that sells you the application in order to find out if they provide in house support for your operating system and Microsoft Word.
The layered approach to combating Malware threats includes creating multiple prevention techniques. In the effort to reduce the number of Malware threats to your company, you will want to deploy software that detects and removes malware from your PC. Experts agree that the most effective way to get rid of Malware is to implement an aggressive malware removal strategy in conjunction with a strong Internet security strategy. When working with IT professionals, you should always work with them to determine which tactics work best to counter each Malware type.
In addition to having multiple malware detection and removal techniques deployed, your company will also want to look for a cloud computing provider that matches your requirements. Not every IT service provider can provide the resources and the Managed Services layer required to keep your business secure.
- As a rule, you should only partner with an IT provider who has experience and capabilities in both Malware and cloud services.
- As a note, it is imperative that you only partner with a cloud service provider that has strong industry presence and experience.
- For additional information on selecting a managed services provider that meets your business needs, please visit the Coding Buddies blog.