What is Malware?
Let's find out Malware meaning, definition in crypto, what is Malware, and all other detailed facts.
Malware, also referred to as malicious software, is a type of program used by hackers to gain unauthorized access to a system, or harm a computer, network, or server. Malicious individuals or groups utilize these harmful programs to steal personal information from the infected system.
There are nine types of malicious software in total. However, viruses, worms, and Trojan malware are among the most infamous ones:
- A computer virus is one of the most known types of malware as it is the most widespread. Viruses are proficient in infecting various files quickly and making relevant changes;
- Worms are infamous for infecting email systems. It’s a piece of cake for this type of malicious software to take over an entire computer system or even a network without the interference of the end-users. This is mainly due to their self-replicating nature;
- Trojan’s goal is to collect the victim’s sensitive information. Computers are usually infected by visiting unprotected websites or opening malicious emails.
In the context of cryptocurrency, attackers using malicious software have had a difficult time when trying to directly infect blockchain systems. Their distributed nature acts as a shield against malicious software.
Therefore, hackers found a way around this obstacle in order to scam people out of their money. Attackers do this by infiltrating a targeted user’s device and walking away with their keys or exchange credentials.
In order to protect themselves, users are advised to install the latest anti-virus software. Naturally, they should also stay away from unknown websites.