Malware in simple terms is malicious software. It is designed to get into the victim’s computer systems via various means, such as social engineering techniques, visiting bad or already infected websites, opening insecure email attachments etc. Once they get into our computer they execute their malicious code, which is also called payload. In order to continue to exist in our system, they change various settings such as registry entries. Then the exploitation starts, with one or more possibilities such as:
· malware sending sensitive information to the criminal hacker
· allowing hackers to remote control the system
· registering your system as part of a malicious botnet, which can be leveraged for various means, such as DDoS attacks
· locking files and seeking ransom to release