If malware were a metaphor villain in video games, then wouldn’t it sneak in and make all kinds of trouble? It’s a cunning collection of letters and numbers that can steal, destroy, or simply make information messy. Just as there are many types of enemies, there are many kinds of malware. They come in various forms, each with its own sneaky ways of creating havoc. Knowing about these means learning your opponents’ weaknesses in a game-helping you protect your digital world.
One common type of malware is the virus, which, like a cold, will spread from one computer to another. To give an analogy: If you are playing tag and “it” has a cold, then when it tags you you become “it,” and catch the cold as well. Computer viruses work in much the same way, traveling from file to file. Now that they’re in, they can damage files, slow down your computer, or just sit quietly doing mean stuff. A well-known virus called WannaCry has encrypted messages and wanted money (bitcoins) to decrypt them, affecting tens of thousands of people worldwide.
Then there are Trojans, named after the wooden horse the Greeks used to sneak into Troy. Trojans get in where you let them in, pretending to be a game or an app. Once they are in, they’ll open the gates for other malware or spy on what you are doing. For example, Zeus is a Trojan horse stealing banking information. It gets in, watches as you type your bank login, and transmits it to the bad guys.
Spyware is like a spy on your computer, watching everything you do: the websites you visit, what you type, and even hearing through your microphone. He’s like a man who follows you around, always watching, writing down everything you buy, everything you eat, and everything you say. Spyware can be used to steal your identity or other personal information, thus making it a dangerous form of malware.
Ransomware is a bully that holds your files hostage. It locks up your files or your whole computer and asks for money. Valium ransomware is what it’s like to give out your favorite game but never get back unless you hand over the allowance.So ransomware does, just with important files. One big ransomware attack, Petya/NotPetya, has caused billions of dollars of damage by shutting down computers worldwide.
You must be smart and cautious online to fight malware. Having antivirus software is like having a superhero protect your computer, scanning for malware and stopping it. Companies that develop antivirus software are trying to create safer and more efficient programs. (Moreover,) Any type of irresponsible behavior on the Internet that is, what kind of thing you download, which emails to open, or what link you click-can be like wearing armor protecting yourself against sneaky enemy attacks. Once there, knowing about malware can help you keep a step ahead of the digital villains and protect your information and computer.
