Malware, viruses, spyware—these terms seem interchangeable, right? Well, they’re not. As the expression goes, “Know thy enemy.” Understanding the distinctions between malware and viruses is key to stopping them and staving off future threats.
Read on to discuss what comprises malware vs. virus infections, how they differ in their inception and transmission, how to recognize and remove viruses and malware, and how to protect your technology against future threats.
What Is Malware?
Definition of malware
Cisco defines malware as harmful software that invades or corrupts your network. The intent is to steal information or sabotage your network.
Common types of malware
Common examples of malware include viruses, worms, Trojan viruses, spyware, and adware. Another type is ransomware, where malware infiltrates your system for monetary gain.
How malware infects devices
Malware can infect your PC and other devices in many ways. E-mail is one of the biggest channels for cybercriminals to send malware. Often, the attacker tries to send you an attachment, saying it’s an invoice, a delivery, or a tax refund.
Phishing is another standard method for spreading harmful software. Cybercriminals try to trick people into giving their personal information or installing malware.
For example, the FTC reported that one recent popular scam was a fraudulent Netflix e-mail. The e-mail had the Netflix logo and told the user Netflix was having trouble with their billing information, so the user had to update their payment information.
Ransomware can invade through emails, exploit kits, or malvertising, where malware infects ads. Ransomware encrypts certain files and tells the user that they need to submit payment to access the data.
What Is a Virus?
Definition of a virus
A virus is a form of malware duplicating itself by inserting its code into other software. The harmful code spreads from computer to computer, wreaking havoc on your network.
Characteristics of viruses
Like real-life parasites, computer viruses require a “host” to form and replicate. As Science Direct reports, a person has to write the virus's code and test it to see if it functions as the creator intended.
Viruses often contain malicious attachments in the forms of Word docs (.doc), spreadsheets (.xls), and images (.gif and .jpg). Viruses also disguise themselves as:
- Extensions like .exe or .vbs
- Doubling the suffix of the program name, like stuff.gbs.vbs
How viruses spread and replicate
A virus's activation depends on how the attacker codes it. Some become active when the recipient opens them, and others require the user to perform specific actions. A computer with an active virus is now infected.
Once active, the virus may copy itself to the computer’s files, disks, and programs. The virus examines the hard drive to see if there’s a susceptible program to infect. If it finds one, the virus adds the viral code to the program or replaces the file or program with its own code. Now, the virus has reproduced itself and infected at least two programs. Any time the user runs the infected programs, the virus spreads by attaching to other programs and repeating the cycle.
Key Differences Between Malware and Viruses
Methods of delivery and infection
Think of malware as an umbrella term that includes viruses, trojans, and worms. The term malware can apply to any type of virus, but the term virus does not apply to all forms of malware.
Malware has various attack approaches. Most begin with persistent attempts to access a system so the hacker can penetrate the network. Once they pass defenses, the malware overtakes the system to communicate information to the original sender. It may relay sensitive data, intellectual property, certain key commands, or images from a device’s camera.
Conversely, viruses require the victim to activate them. This can be done by opening an infected application, downloading a harmful file, or clicking a corrupt link. Once activated, a virus may enact its purpose, including deleting files, encrypting data, overtaking a system’s functions, or destabilizing security settings.
Purpose and behavior of malware vs viruses
The main distinction between malware and viruses is that viruses have a self-replicating characteristic. Self-replication often happens without the computer user’s knowledge.
Malware attacks can be launched through phishing attacks, social engineering, or malicious attachments or downloads.
Viruses also spread through harmful attachments but rely more on web applications, software, or email. Other channels for virus transmission are infected websites, downloads, or corrupt storage devices.
Impact on devices and data
Since malware attacks encompass different forms, like spyware or ransomware, their consequences vary. For ransomware, the attacker encrypts the victim’s data and demands that the victim pay a fine. The attacker might insist on a payment deadline or act anyway, performing actions like deleting data, obtaining confidential information, or overtaking your systems in place of you. In distributed denial of service (DDOS) attacks, the attacker’s primary purpose may solely be to disrupt systems.
The attacker wants to damage the user’s device or broader network with a virus. The attacker profits when the virus is part of a larger malware attack like a ransomware scheme. Since a viral attack involves at least two infected computers, the cybercriminal intends to take down an entire network.
Securing Your Data from Malware and Viruses
Data backup and recovery strategies
Your organization’s cybersecurity must be a holistic program, not simply installing antivirus software. Data backup and recovery must be at the program’s forefront. Implement top-performing security architecture with proactive monitoring and rehearse what you’d do in case of a security breach. Decide if you want to keep your data on-premise or in the cloud.
Encryption and password protection
A strong encryption model is central to your data protection efforts. Encryption converts plaintext to unreadable text to disguise it. Hashing is a one-way technique that converts data to a unreadable output, or a hash. Salting takes one input and makes it unique.
While encryption is a good start, you’d still have to tell your systems your password. Wouldn’t it be nice if only you knew it? That’s why you should look for platforms with zero-knowledge encryption so that you alone know your Master Password and sensitive data.
Safe browsing habits and email practices
It may seem obvious not to open infected emails, but cybercriminals have gotten cleverer and know what resonates with the average recipient. For example, they’ll send emails telling the recipient that they missed a package or that their bank account was corrupted. You also can’t take for granted your browser's security. In browsers like Chrome or Microsoft Edge, customize their security settings or use a platform that helps you browse without worry.
Recognizing and Removing Malware and Viruses
Signs of malware or virus infection
Some of the signs of malware vs. virus infections may differ, but their consequences are equally disruptive or devastating. Reduced performance tops the list of signs. Your processes run slower for malware, or your regular programs may not operate normally. For example, Windows might not work properly, or you could have trouble connecting to the Internet. Your Internet homepage could change, or you may see more pop-up ads than normal.
A virus can cause similar damage. However, it may also enact mass scam e-mail send-outs, suspicious network activity or programs, strange social media messages, or dramatically reduced storage space.
Steps to remove malware and viruses
Delete any harmful or suspicious-looking software or email attachments. If the message is important, the sender should notify you. Avoid entering identification or financial data unless you've thoroughly checked the email or sender. Also, find security technology that immediately alerts you to any threats, attacks, or suspicious programs.
Seeking professional help when needed
Maintaining a top-performing organization is a Herculean task, even without worrying about cybersecurity. Bringing in external experts ensures that you have the best industry security for your internal and customer data. They’ll explain to you malware vs. virus protection methods or implement a data protection model tailored to your organization.
Protecting Yourself Against Malware and Viruses
Importance of antivirus and antimalware software
Antivirus and antimalware software delivers personalized, ongoing protection to your systems even when you’re not thinking about it. These programs identify and block harmful software before it has a chance to infect your technology.
Best practices for preventing malware and viruses
Besides antimalware software, your organization must improve its password security and authentication methods. Sure, multifactor authentication means signing in and accessing accounts takes a few seconds longer. MFA adds an extra step to signing in that only you can execute successfully. This reduces the efficacy of a virus or phishing attacker attempting to overtake your account.
Regular software updates and patching
Installing preventative software is a great start, but you must regularly check for updates. They may leave you more vulnerable to cyber threats if they're not current. Check to see if your security platform updates automatically so you don't have to worry about forgetting.
Whether you want to focus on malware vs. virus prevention or manage system access, LastPass offers a top-performing platform and industry experts to protect your business.
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