Various type of computer viruses

Adware, as the name indicates, is malware that involves advertising. Mobile adware, meaning adware on mobile devices, has become increasingly common and can be contracted through third-party app downloads.

Ultimately, adware can:. This is often for the purpose of spying on internet activity, tracking log in and password information, or collecting sensitive information that can be used for fraudulent purposes. Keyloggers , as well, are a popular form of spyware that can be used to track and log the keys you strike on your keyboard, capturing any information typed.

DarkHotel, : This keylogger spyware targeted government and business leaders using hotel Wi-Fi. Since rootkits are designed to remain hidden, they can hijack or subvert security software, making it likely that this type of malware could live on your computer for a long time causing significant damage.

Zacinlo, : This rootkit stayed stealthy until about when it was first detected, delivering adware and disabling antivirus software on primarily Windows devices. Fileless malware is a type of malware that uses software, applications, and protocols already built-in or native to device operating systems to install and execute malicious activities.

In other words, no files are needed to download this type of malware, hence the name fileless malware. Fileless malware is memory-based, not file-based. Once installed, fileless malware piggybacks on legitimate scripts by executing malicious activity while the legitimate programs continue to run.

Thanks to this stealthy nature, fileless malware is tough to spot. Astaroth, : This fileless malware was a true info-stealer and primarily targetted Windows devices and in specific countries, including Brazil.

Not to be confused with adware, malvertising is a type of malware that comes from ads on legitimate websites. Adware, however, is a type of malware that is already on a device. Both attacks rely on online advertising to do their damage. You can fall victim to malvertising by clicking on an infected ad — cybercriminals may even pay to place these on websites — or by visiting a website that is home to a corrupted ad and becoming victim to a drive-by download.

Malware is overwhelmingly spread via email. By some counts, 94 percent of it is delivered by email. Still, cybercriminals harness many methods to pull off a malware attack. These are just some of their common tactics, some being combinations of one another. Just as the types of malware may meld together, so too do malware prevention tactics. Consider a combination of these best practices to prevent malware, plus tips for how to detect malware and how to remove malware.

Multi-factor authentication, or two-factor authentication , adds an extra layer of security to your accounts by introducing an additional step in the login process. That can come as a code sent to your phone or a biometric scan , that helps verify your identity. Elk Cloner is a boot virus that attacked the Apple system and leaves a poem which is the hacker writes3.

The email is disguised as a love letter to anyone in the contact book, and if the user prompts to open it, the virus gets injected into their system. This is popular, which affected fifty million systems in just nine days.

The Code red virus attacked Microsoft servers and caused many server related issues as it degraded all the information technology system. Ninda is a window virus that is injected through multiple methods.

It is spread via emails, web browsers, attachments, and different means of portable devices. Slammer is an extremely rapid-spreading virus affecting billions of systems in a fraction of a second. TheA single bit code that corrupts the entire programlaster is a type of virus which occurs when there is a program error, but the user receives lots of worthless media with a quote, Bill gates Stop Making money.

Welchia is a virus that affects the computer, then deletes itself. Commwarrior is an advanced form of virus which attacked smartphones through text messages. It is a new variety of viruses in the beginning stage, so the security is made firm to prevent the user data.

The user has to safeguard his device with a strong firewall and antivirus software to prevent the system from any virus attack. The user should cross-check twice before installing a program, clicking on spam emails, downloading a suspicious file, inserting any hard disk to the system. This is a guide to Types of Computer Virus. You can also go through our suggested articles to learn more —. Submit Next Question. By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

This makes it difficult to detect and contain. Armored Virus: An armored virus is coded to make it difficult for antivirus to unravel and understand. It uses a variety of techniques to do so like fooling antivirus to believe that it lies somewhere else than its real location or using compression to complicate its code.

It is also called the browser redirect virus because it redirects your browser to other malicious sites that can harm your computer system. Resident Virus: Resident viruses installation store for your RAM and meddle together along with your device operations. Next Introduction of Firewall in Computer Network. Recommended Articles. Article Contributed By :. Easy Normal Medium Hard Expert. Writing code in comment? Please use ide. Load Comments. What's New. Most popular in Computer Networks. Most visited in GBlog.

Due to its targeted nature, this virus type is one of the easier ones to detect and remove. As the name implies, overwrite viruses overwrite file content to infect entire folders, files, and programs.

This sneaky virus disguises itself in the coding of links, ads, images, videos, and site code. It can infect systems when users download malicious files or visit malicious websites. By targeting executable files. Network viruses travel through network connections and replicate themselves through shared resources. One of the easier viruses to avoid, this virus hides out in a file on a USB drive or email attachment. The key to protecting yourself from computer viruses is having multiple layers of cybersecurity defense.

There are multiple layers to consider in a cybersecurity plan, like user education , endpoint detection and response EDR , DNS filtering , and more. Learn more about the 11 layers of cybersecurity. Your individual solution will depend on factors like the size of your business, industry, organization type, and long-term business goals. The easiest way to illustrate multilayered computer virus protection, is by imagining each individual layer of cybersecurity as a slice of swiss cheese.

Each slice has a few holes in it, and as you stack slices on top of one another, you cover up the holes. Download the Essential Business Guide to Cybersecurity. Have you been noticing symptoms of a computer virus lately?