Qué es: malware

Qué es malware

Malware: es un nombre común para varios tipos de software, diseñado para obtener acceso no autorizado a dispositivos informáticos (computadoras, teléfonos inteligentes, etc.) o redes y/o dañar intencionalmente a los usuarios de estos dispositivos. Por lo tanto, el software se define como malware, dependiendo del propósito de su uso, en lugar de la metodología o tecnología particular en la que se basa este software.

Propósitos de uso

Los primeros programas de malware se crearon como un experimento o por diversión. Hoy en día, el software malicioso se usa con mayor frecuencia para robar información, ya sea financiera, personal o comercial. El software malicioso se puede usar tanto para ataques a organizaciones (penetración en una red local) como incluso en un país, así como para robar información particular sobre un individuo (robo de datos bancarios, detalles de acceso a varios servicios, etc.).

La mayoría de los virus y gusanos existentes actualmente están diseñados para obtener control sobre el dispositivo atacado (computadora, teléfono inteligente, etc.). Después de esto, el dispositivo monitoreado puede usarse para enviar spam, almacenar información ilegal (por ejemplo, pornografía infantil) o para realizar ataques de otros tipos.

Clasificación de malware

Algunos productos de malware pueden pertenecer a varios tipos al mismo tiempo; Tales programas a menudo tienen rasgos de troyanos y gusanos, y a veces también virus. Por lo general, se entrega un programa malicioso al usuario final como un caballo de Troya, pero después del lanzamiento se fija en el dispositivo del usuario e infecta archivos ejecutables de otros programas, es decir, actúa como un virus; También puede atacar a otros dispositivos a través de la red, es decir, actuar como un gusano.

Virus

Un virus informático es un programa oculto en otro software, generalmente útil o inofensivo. Los virus pueden crear copias de sí mismos e insertarlos en archivos ejecutables de otros programas. Un virus generalmente realiza alguna acción maliciosa, por ejemplo, robo o destrucción de datos.

Worms

A computer (network) worm is software that copies itself to other computers through a computer network in order to distribute itself. Usually, gaps in operating systems or network settings are used for this.

Spyware

Spyware is software whose purpose is to steal private information from a computer system for a third party. Spyware collects the information and sends it to an attacker.

Trojan horses

A Trojan horse (or simply 'a Trojan') is a malicious program that disguises itself as a regular useful program or an app to convince the victim to install it. A Trojan horse usually carries a hidden destructive function activated when the Trojan-laden application starts. The term is derived from an ancient Greek story about a Trojan horse used to covertly invade the city of Troy. Unlike computer viruses and worms, Trojan horses usually do not try to embed themselves in other files or otherwise spread themselves.

Logic bombs

A logical bomb is a malicious program that uses a trigger for activating malicious code. A logic bomb does not work until this trigger event occurs. Once launched, a logic bomb injects malicious code that harms the computer. Cybersecurity experts recently discovered logic bombs that attack and destroy equipment components on workstations or servers, including cooling fans, hard drives, and power supplies. The logic bomb overloads these devices until they overheat or fail.

Ransomware

A screen blocker is a pseudo-police program that locks the screen on the device and informs the user that he or she is ostensibly accused of collecting illegal content, trying to scare the victim and make him or her pay the "fine".

Rootkits

A rootkit is a malicious program that hides its presence with the help of a low-level modification of the infected system. Rootkits can prevent the appearance of their executable process in the list of system processes or block reading of their files.

Backdoors

A backdoor is a malicious program that provides access to the infected device by means of bypassing normal authentication procedures, usually through a network connection. After a system (computer or subnet) is hacked, a backdoor can be installed to provide access to the hacked system in the future, invisibly to its user.

Adware

Adware is a type of malware that redirects your browser to an advertising web page without your consent. Often these pages try to download other malware. As cyber security experts say, adware is often found in so-called free programs, such as games or browser extensions.

Cryptojacking

Cryptojacking is malware that uses power of your device (e.g. computer) to mine cryptocurrencies without your knowledge. Such mining software may run in the background on your operating system or even like JavaScript in a browser window.

Malvertising (Malicious Advertising)

Malicious advertising is using legitimate advertisements or ad networks to deliver malware. For example, a cybercriminal may pay for placing an advertisement on some website. When a user clicks on this ad, the code in the ad either redirects the user to a malicious website or installs malware on the victim's computer. In some cases, malware embedded in such ads can run automatically without any user’s action - this method is called "boot from disk".

Methods of Infection

Security Gaps in Software

Malicious software may use security flaws (vulnerabilities) in the operating system, individual applications, or application extensions (plug-ins). A common method of infection is to exploit the buffer overflow vulnerability.

Overly privileged users and overly privileged code

In computer systems, different users and programs have different privileges as to how they can influence the system. In poorly designed systems, users and programs can be given too high privileges without explicit need for it, and malicious software can take advantage of this.

Insecure system settings or user errors

Insecure settings include, for example, ability to autoload from removable media (USB, CD, DVD, etc.). User errors are actions of the device user, which lead to infection. Most often, these actions include launching programs of dubious or obviously dangerous origin (cracks and keygens for paid software, opening email attachments, etc.) without checking them first.