Most Common Types of Malware in 2022

One thing we know, and it can be said with certainty, is that in today’s hyperconnected and digital world, cybercrime is booming. Malware is noticeably its most popular and dangerous weapon. As the number of malware variants is steadily increasing and to fully understand the damage malware can inflict, you should get acquainted with the most common types of malware in 2022.

For something so dangerous, it’s truly astonishing how innocently and spontaneously, malware can slide its way into your network. Of course, all malware can be used to steal financial information, passwords, and personal information, but their differences are usually in how they’re designed or spread.

With that being said, for you to better understand the malware landscape, you should know which the most common sources of malware are:

1. Shared networks
2. Torrents
3. Phishing

All of the sources of malware mentioned above can be extremely dangerous and lead to some severe consequences.

With phishing scams, a hacker can get your mobile phone number or email and send you a message as an authentic company seeking to collect your confidential information and use it against you.

When you download and/or share a torrent file, you could suffer an attack from someone who published a malicious file on the platform that can lead to devastating consequences.

Finally, if you share a public network with a malware-infected computer, the same shared network may spread malware onto your computer. The most efficient solution for this problem is to use a VPN from reputable VPN providers such as Le VPN.

#1 Spyware

Spyware is exactly what its name indicates – malware used to spy on your computer activity without your knowledge. Since spyware can gather so much information about you, from your email to credit card numbers, passwords, and more, it’s a tremendous privacy and security threat that we constantly try to minimize.

This malware typically finds its way onto your computer when you download other programs, mainly freeware. This is because the spyware companies count on you to click “OK” on the terms and conditions without reading the agreement first.

However, sometimes the spyware is not even mentioned in the agreement, making this malware ten times more dangerous. These are some of the things you can do to prevent the spread of spyware:

1.  Use trusted antivirus software, preferably with anti-spy features
2. Don’t open suspicious links received from an unknown number
3. Regularly update your computer and mobile operating system

There are many varieties of spyware, and each one of them has its own set of behaviors. With that said, you should educate yourself about them and do everything in your power to prevent this malware from sneaking up on you.

#2 Malvertising

Malvertising is a relatively new form of online attack that distributes malware through online advertisements. This type of malware can appear on a website in the form of legitimate ads and pop-ups.

Like spyware, this kind of malware appears in disguise, hence why it’s so dangerous. With that being said, you should implement some things in your day-to-day life to try to protect yourself from malvertising.

Maybe the best thing one can do to protect themselves is to invest in anti-malvertising software. Another efficient way to protect yourself is to use an ad-blocker. An ad blocker will stop both legitimate and fraudulent ads from popping on your screen, minimizing the threat.

Finally, always check that your plug-ins, browsers, and operating systems are up-to-date. Unupdated systems almost always contain security vulnerabilities, making it easier for a hacker to invade your privacy and ruin your day.

#3 Trojan Horse

If you didn’t already know, a trojan horse is a type of virus that can destroy files on the hard disk, making them really dangerous. In addition, this type of virus can capture and forward confidential information to an external address, allowing intruders to control the computer remotely.

Generally, there are plenty of reasons why hackers use Trojans, from stealing and modifying data to installing more malware and creating backdoors. Some of the most known types of trojan horses are Rootkit, Exploit, and Backdoor.

Unlike a typical virus, Trojan can’t spread on their own. Instead, it survives by staying hidden behind files and programs you think you can trust. Unfortunately, this is why most people can’t even realize what’s going on until it’s too late.

In order to avoid getting infected, make sure you download only well-reviewed apps and files from trusted sources. Also, try to avoid visiting random sites and opening any emails from people you don’t know.

#4 Ransomware

If you’ve been reading the latest news, then you probably already know that ransomware is only getting worse as it’s expected that the volume of ransomware attacks will increase in the following years. Unfortunately, it is also likely that these attacks will only be even more successful in making matters worse.

Needless to say, ransomware is the biggest malware threat of 2022. This type of malware works by gaining access to your device and then locking and encrypting vulnerable data stored on it until a ransom is totally paid.

The biggest targets of these attacks are organizations that can pay quickly, firms with sensitive data, and businesses in the Western markets. The matter of fact is that these cybercriminals can choose their targets, and they usually go for those who can pay larger ransoms.

The best and most important step to take to help protect against this malware is always to back up your data, stay alert, be extra cautious when online, and not surf the net on public Wi-Fi networks. If you need to use a public network, make sure you use a VPN from a reputable VPN provider, such as Le VPN.