In recent years, the internet has become a safer place for casual users without much technical knowledge. While visiting most popular websites and social media networks, web surfers avoid most of the dangers that plagued the internet in the past. However, just as big tech companies create tools to make your browsing experience efficient, fun, and convenient, hackers and cybercriminals develop new strategies to invade your privacy and steal your personal data and digital resources for profit.
We would like to focus on an abstract expression that encapsulates a particular category of tools used for cyber crimes – malware. It is a blanket term that summarizes trojans, worms, and other kinds of viruses that prey on the internet user by injecting malicious software into the targeted computer. In the past, a large chunk of malware was used to sabotage and disrupt the devices of a user to whom the perpetrator holds a grudge. While some viruses find ways to reap the benefits from vulnerable web surfers, just as the internet gets safe and efficient ways to counter the distribution of malware, its villains find other, more effective ways to profit from illegal activities. Today, the most popular groups of malware are Emotet – a complex, self-transferable trojan virus, mostly used to target banking and often distributed via spam emails, and Formbook – a virus that steals sensitive information from the web browsers, screenshots, and even keyboard clicks.
Our goal is to educate the readers on malware and the tools that will help you protect your computer. We will discuss the changes to your system you may notice when the virus is present on your PC or laptop, as well as tools that will help you detect and prevent the appearance of malware on your computer. Proxy servers can provide great help in securing your device and add other benefits to your browsing experience. For example, you can buy HTTP proxy from the best proxy providers to add a layer of protection between yourself and malware distributors. You can buy HTTP proxy from many providers that will guide you through the process of usage and installation. We also recommend reading informative blog articles if you plan to buy HTTP proxy. For now, let’s get a deeper understanding of malware and later move on to the means of protection.
Most common types of malware
For sufficient protection, every internet user has to know the most common types of malware. We will discuss the functionality of viruses, worms, and trojans and how you recognize them if they infest your digital device.
Viruses thrive and do damage to your computer through multiplication, just like biological viruses that spread in real life. They are distributed when a device contacts an infected computer in various ways. Viruses can spread through a public Wi-Fi network or be manually planted into a device with a USB stick. Such malicious software often damages or reconstructs the files on your computer and can even delete important folders on your computer.
Worms infect traveling information packets. They can multiply to attack other computers and devices, resulting in exponential growth. These malicious applications find ways to travel between systems without the host’s actions. This makes them more dangerous than viruses – you may never notice a worm not only infecting your device, but also the computers of your contacts.
The name of trojan malware comes from the infamous myth about the trojan horse – a deceptive gift that helped Greek soldiers enter the city of Troy. In information technology, the name perfectly fits this type of malware, because it disguises itself as a legitimate program that damages your computer. When opened, trojans can copy and steal or delete important files and user information on a device. Trojans are widely used because perpetrators can make convincing disguises to lure unsuspecting internet users into downloading malicious applications.
How cybercriminals profit from malware
Modern, sophisticated forms of malware give criminals a chance to profit from unprotected internet users and vulnerable companies. Ransomware is heavy-hitting software that can block access to a device and keep it locked until a ransom is paid. Just like with other types of malware, it can be distributed through spam emails, USB sticks, and other affected devices. Ransomware is one of the most destructive cyberattacks: if the computer owner refuses to pay, hackers can leak and sell obtained information to the interested party. To make matters worse, even if the ransom is paid, there is no way of knowing that criminals will hold up to their end of the bargain.
How to protect yourself from malware attacks
While different types of malware require preventive measures, having a suspicious outlook and a careful defense strategy will help you minimize the effects of these cybercrimes. Every internet user and company employee should remain cautious when handling downloads of files, especially via email, as well as focus on any changes in the device’s functionality. Businesses that handle sensitive data need recoverable backups and restricted access points to information to minimize losses during a potential cybersecurity attack.
To prevent viruses from entering your computer or eliminate present malware on your device, we recommend using external protection tools. You can use antivirus software to scan your computer and apply HTTP proxies to filter out harmful content on the web and mask your IP address at the same time. With good providers at your disposal, you will be able to utilize additional features to eliminate malware on your device and guarantee safety and anonymity online. If you access the web through an HTTP proxy, cybercriminals will have to face an additional layer of protection that will change your network identity and geolocation.