Malwares vs Viruses | CyberNcrypt
People often use the words “virus” and “malware” in the same way. But technically, they are different, so the question of malware vs. viruses is important.
Malware is a general term for any kind of bad software, no matter how it works, what it’s meant to do, or how it’s spread. A virus is a type of malicious software that copies itself by putting its code into other programmes.
Viruses spread by attaching themselves to legitimate files and programmes. They can also be spread through infected websites, flash drives, and emails. A virus is activated when a person opens an infected programme or file. When a virus is turned on, it can delete or encrypt files, change applications, or stop the system from working.
Viruses come in many different forms. Here are three of the most common:
- The file infector can get into executable files and spread through a network. A file infector can erase a computer’s operating system or even reformat its drive.
- The macro virus uses programmes that can work with macros. Most of the time, macro viruses come as Word or Excel files attached to spam emails or as zipped files. By giving the files fake names, viruses can get people to open them. Macro viruses are a type of malware that has been around for a long time but is still popular with hackers.
- Viruses that are polymorphic change their own code. The virus copies itself and changes its code just enough so that antivirus programmes can’t find it.
- Malware includes all kinds of bad software, like viruses, and can be used for many different things. Malware often tries to do the following:
- Trick a victim into giving personal information so they can steal their identity.
- Take credit card information or other financial information from people
- Take over multiple computers and use them to launch denial-of-service attacks on other networks
- Infect computers and use them to mine bitcoin or other digital currencies.
Five different types of malware
In addition to viruses, there are many other kinds of malware that can get on desktops, laptops, servers, and even smartphones. The following are types of malware:
- Worms – A worm is a programme that runs on its own and can copy itself and spread over a network. Unlike a virus, a worm spreads by taking advantage of a weakness in the system it’s on or by being attached to an email as what looks like a legitimate file.
- Ransomware – As the name suggests, ransomware locks people out of their computers until they pay a ransom, which is usually in bitcoin or another cryptocurrency.
- Scareware – is software that tries to scare the user into buying software they don’t need or giving out their financial information. Scareware tells the user that their computer is infected by flashing images or loud alarms that appear on their desktop. It usually tells the person to enter their credit card information quickly and download a fake antivirus programme.
- Spyware and adware – Adware sends unwanted ads to users, and spyware collects information about the user without the user’s knowledge. Spyware can keep track of the websites a user goes to, information about the user’s computer system and any weaknesses that could be used in an attack in the future, or even the user’s keystrokes. A keylogger is a type of spyware that records what keys you press. Keyloggers record what the user types and then use that information to steal credit card numbers, passwords, account numbers, and other sensitive information.
- Fileless malware – is different from traditional malware in that it doesn’t download code to a computer. This means that a virus scanner can’t find a signature for it. Instead, fileless malware runs in the computer’s memory and can hide in a trusted utility, productivity tool, or security application to avoid being found. One way it can spread is when Microsoft Excel Web Query files are attached to an email. It makes the computer run PowerShell command scripts, which gives an attacker access to the system. As PowerShell is a trusted part of the Microsoft platform, this attack usually does not cause a security alert. Some malware that doesn’t have a file also doesn’t need to be clicked on, so the victim doesn’t have to click on the file to make it work.
