Like all other beautiful and essential things, the internet isn’t free from certain risks, and I would like to term malware as the leading security threat on the online surface. More so when they are also evolving to be more penetrating and dangerous. You can realize the graveness of this situation by a survey from DataProt, saying that more than 1 billion malware are currently active, and 560000 new ones are getting detected daily. Furthermore, from the same report, I found four companies are becoming targets of ransomware attacks daily. Additionally, malware-based attacks on corporate groups are getting more ruthless and damaging daily.
Therefore, here, I update you about the top 10 most dangerous malware threats and other important information, endowing you a better hand while responding, preventing, or defending if a crisis appears.
Top 10 Most Dangerous Malware Threats
Clop Ransomeware
If Windows users should be worried about any recently detected and gruesome ransomware, it’s Clop –the first answer to questions like which malware is most dangerous. After entering into your system, it blocks multiple applications from Windows 10 and impedes over 600 different processes. Furthermore, crucial Windows 10 applications like Microsoft Security Essentials and Windows Defender plummet under its effects, resulting in highly curbed data protection. Unfortunately, this variant of Cryptoomix ransomware has been evolving to engulf separate devices and entire networks.
False Computer Updates
Internet users are getting more conscious and informed about online security. Therefore, hackers are coming up with new innovative ways of deceiving people, and fake update is a way of compelling people to install ransomware in their systems. For example, hackers send fraudulent emails to computer users, recommending users update their computers. In most cases, I have seen that the ransomware such emails ask people to install in their system has a ‘.exe’ extension.
As you download and install it on your computer, it will encrypt all files and programs in your system and ask for monetary amounts in the trade of decrypting them again.
RaaS
RaaS or Ransomeware as a Service is a complete industry thriving in the front yard of the cybercrime and hacking community. You will be horrified to know that RaaS hire professional hackers or experts in other cyber crimes to bring attacks on you or your organization.
As ransomware has gained immense popularity among its community for its vile success rate, it’s continuously attracting people with hands-on knowledge in malware coding. But, this success rate of RaaS has shown how easy it’s to perform malware attacks on others, even by individuals with minimum technical knowledge.
Agent Tesla
I will start describing Agent Tesla by emphasizing its unswerving capacity to steal data like keystrokes, credentials, images, clipboard information, and more from your computer. By nature, Agent Tesla falls among the Remote Access Trojan (RAT) and is one of the most authoritative but user-friendly spyware the modern world can bring to the table.
Cryptojacking
Cryptojacking is the name of a threat to individuals owning cryptocurrencies. This unique malware permits hackers to mine these currencies despite being necessitated to pay huge electricity bills and for pricy mining hardware.
Once cryptocurrencies are mined, hackers operating with Cryptojacking can shift currencies to their wallets and control them. SonicWall, a cyber security company, states that the volume of Cryptojacking was increased to approximately US$66 million within 2022’s first half.
Gameover Zeus
Gameover Zeus is a notorious member of the Zeus malware group and seeks victims’ financial information. Getting its hands on all your financial information, this Trojan steals your funds. Furthermore, this malware can form its servers, diminishing centralized servers for transmitting sensitive information.
IoT Attacks
Installing smart devices in homes with the help of IoT technology is nothing new for people these days, and hackers are using this technology to fulfilling their felonies. For example, they intend to extract easy-to-access data from usernames and passwords and use internet-powered mics and cameras. Similarly, they can bring an entire corporate network to dust, utilizing unprotected IoT devices.
Malware Attack with News
Cybercriminals have also identified how to use global events and trending stories to target people with malware. The most recent example I can give you is hackers trying to rob individuals using news of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Fraudsters send emails proposing important information about the disease and prompt people to click on a link to know more, which contains the malware. Then, it gets downloaded on the victim’s computer and helps the hacker to steal information from it.
Social Engineering
By adopting this method, hackers have learned to trick people, exploiting human psychology. In this way, criminals access the customer support team of companies or service providers and try to access pieces of sensitive information from them and use it to steal others’ banking information like payment details and more.
Indeed, it should be referred to as a trend rather than a malware attack. Yet, it’s even more dangerous, as it doesn’t necessitate criminals to know about malware development or coding but relies upon human errors.
Attacks Using Artificial Intelligence
The increasing number of productive tools is helping professionals willing to program AI scripts, and cyber-attackers aren’t lagging in using them for their purpose. I know, Cybersecurity companies have machine learning algorithms and artificial intelligence as shields against malware, but these same technologies are casing device and network hacks in significant numbers.
Which Types of Malware are the Most Dangerous
Malware, the abbreviation for malicious software, is a bug prying for infecting devices and networks with unlawful intentions, damaging systems, or forcing them to malfunction. While uncountable malware can be found over the internet, some types hold more devastating capabilities than others. Therefore, I have kept the following section discussing some of those types. So, now let’s find out which malware is the most dangerous.
Ransomware
Ransomware, possibly, is the most dangerous type of malware active these days. After getting into a network or system, such malware encrypts all information and decrypts them only when the hackers get their claimed money amounts.
Adware
These software programs offer personalized advertisements to victims, collecting information about them. Although they don’t always show their spiteful nature, at maximum times, they are from a Trojan and infected sites. Also regarded as a browser hijacker, Adware gets installed on computers without any sign.
Botnets
Botnet contains a network of devices infected with other types of malware. This malware provides power to attackers to control these devices from remote locations.
Advance Persistent Threat
Better known as APT, Advance Persistent threats are malware that penetrates security systems and brings out information incessantly from computers. After getting into security systems, they can track and control everything there.
Backdoor
The backdoor is a malware type that creates a backdoor into computer systems and utilizes it to engulf them into its control.
Exploit
Malware from Exploit’s group seeks to abuse vulnerable points of computer systems to access them and gain control without users’ approval.
The list doesn’t end here, as you must be cautious about other types like Worms, Trojan, DDos, and more. For example, a report from Purplesec states that Trojans represent 51.45% of all viruses.
How to Prevent Dangerous Malware Attacks
Thankfully, regardless of how much malware poses security threats to your system, you can always be under unfathomable safety by ensuring the tips mentioned below. So, let’s go through the following essential steps I have chosen to answer how to prevent dangerous malware attacks.
- Always Keep Anti-Spyware ad Anti-Virus Installed.
These software programs are designed to locate and eliminate malicious software from your system. Hence, always keep them updated. Allow these programs to delete malware as soon as they identify it. Besides, always watch for mysterious misplacement or addition of data and errors.
- Using Reliable Authentication Methods is Mandatory
Your passwords should be strong enough, containing letters in upper and lowercase, numbers, and symbols. Use security measures like multi-factor authentication and biometric tools. Furthermore, another suggestion from my end is never to save your passwords on computers or networks.
- Never Use Administrator Account Unless It’s Compulsory
The ability to change a network system or computer is often similar to users and malware. Hence, unless it gets an administrative account, it won’t be able to make changes. Therefore, always avoid administrative facilities while using browsers or email accounts. Also, never install software downloaded from anonymous sources using administrator credentials.
- Always Use the Most Recent Version of Software
Software developers constantly invent new ways of prohibiting malware in their latest updates. Hence, you will be on the safer side by using only updated software programs, including tools, browsers, operating systems, and plug-ins.
- Bound Application Privileges
Hackers need only one vulnerable point in your system to infiltrate, one of which is applications with lots of privileges. So if you install any app, permit only those features that are necessary to run that app.
How Dangerous is Malware
Let me describe the threat as shortly as possible. Malware like ransomware is so nasty that they lock up the entirety of your digital life and also claims money from you. Besides, hackers can still keep your information encrypted and demand more money even if you pay the ordered amount. Perils will surely increase if you don’t have backups of those data.
However, I don’t mean there’s no need to take others seriously. Every type of malware is proficient in creating problems, including stealing your personal information through your passwords, deleting files, slowing down internet connection and computers, keeping track of you from webcams, and more. In short, they are nothing but deadly for your computers and networks.
What are the Top 3 Malware
Slayer
In most scenarios, Slayer adopts hijacked domains, malicious websites, and false notifications, like a fake update of Adobe Flash, to get distributed. In nature, it’s a dropper and downloader of macOS malware.
Ryuk Ransomware:
If you imagine a list of the most infamous ransomware, you will find Ryuk in one of the leading positions. After getting into your system, this ransomware blocks it completely, along with all programs and files. These days, incidents of Ryuk being used appear more with people pursuing their daily jobs from home. As they work away from IT security, they are more prone to permit Ryuk to access their devices remotely.
NetWalker
NetWalker poses one of the most gruesome threats to organizations of all sizes. Using it, hackers bring out sensitive information from your network and publish some of it on the dark web. Afterward, he will send proofs of it along with a ransom letter. Of course, any worried organization’s managing committee is bound to pay the amount these criminals want, realizing the threat they are in.
What is the Most Dangerous Computer Virus
Honestly, I am obligated to state that all computer viruses that have gained recognition for their infiltrating and devastating capabilities are dangerous. Hence, keeping only one from them in the answer of what is the most dangerous computer virus would be difficult.
Therefore, I should take names like Code Red, Strom Trojan, My Doom, and Zeus. Code Red was the virus that attacked the White House in 2001. Storm Trojan has a history of infecting thousands of systems by deceiving users with fake news updates. Using Zeus, criminals once stole $70 million from leading corporations and banks.
Types of Malware and What They Do
The online world of malware contains many types, but the following section will discuss the top 5 classes you should be aware of, endowing you with a precise answer to which malware is most dangerous.
- Trojan: Also known as Trojan Horse, Trojan comes as authorized software and misleads you to install it on your computer.
- Adware: This software collects your personal information and displays personalized ads without your consent.
- Spyware: Spyware takes sensitive information from your computer, like banking and financial card information, after it enters your system. It also steals users’ passwords and browsing data.
- Worms: Worms infect entire computer networks by replicating themselves from one system to another connected to the same network. In addition, they hinder networks by engulfing bandwidth.
- Keylogger: Keyloggers record your keystrokes on the keyboard in a log and use that to access different accounts of yours.
However, I know that the many malware is present with their overwhelming power the many ways of keeping your network and computers safe are also there. So, you only need to know what you are fighting against and your weapons.