Malware
Malware is malicious The programs, applications and data in a computer system. Any parts of a computer system that aren't physical. that is designed to Gaining unauthorised access to a computer. a system. Malware can take many different forms.
| Malware threat | Description |
| Viruses | Programs embedded (hidden) within other files. They replicate themselves and become part of other programs. Viruses often cause damage by deleting or modifying data. |
| Worms | Programs similar to viruses except that they are not hidden within other files. Worms often spread through emails. |
| Trojans | Programs which pretend to be legitimate but in reality are malware. They are often disguised as email attachments. Trojans cannot spread by themselves - instead they deceive a user into installing the program. |
| Spyware | Programs that monitor user activities (such as websites visited, usernames and passwords used) and send the information back to a hacker. |
| Ransomware | Programs that attempt to blackmail a user into making a payment to a hacker. Some types of ransomware do little but try to scare users into paying, while others go further - they encrypt documents and will not decrypt them until a ransom is paid. |
| Keyloggers | Key loggers are programs that capture user input (Data which is inserted into a system for processing and/or storage). This data is then sent on to people with malicious intent. |
| Malware threat | Viruses |
|---|---|
| Description | Programs embedded (hidden) within other files. They replicate themselves and become part of other programs. Viruses often cause damage by deleting or modifying data. |
| Malware threat | Worms |
|---|---|
| Description | Programs similar to viruses except that they are not hidden within other files. Worms often spread through emails. |
| Malware threat | Trojans |
|---|---|
| Description | Programs which pretend to be legitimate but in reality are malware. They are often disguised as email attachments. Trojans cannot spread by themselves - instead they deceive a user into installing the program. |
| Malware threat | Spyware |
|---|---|
| Description | Programs that monitor user activities (such as websites visited, usernames and passwords used) and send the information back to a hacker. |
| Malware threat | Ransomware |
|---|---|
| Description | Programs that attempt to blackmail a user into making a payment to a hacker. Some types of ransomware do little but try to scare users into paying, while others go further - they encrypt documents and will not decrypt them until a ransom is paid. |
| Malware threat | Keyloggers |
|---|---|
| Description | Key loggers are programs that capture user input (Data which is inserted into a system for processing and/or storage). This data is then sent on to people with malicious intent. |
