What Are Ransomware and Malware? Is Ransomware Different From Malware?

Ransomware is a type of malicious software (malware). In 2017, ransomware caused the hospital to stop functioning, and it was taken up as a global issue.

Infection with ransomware not only slows down operations but also causes financial damage and damage to corporate credibility. In order to protect your company's profits, understand the damage caused by ransomware and the route of intrusion into your PC, and consider effective countermeasures.

What is Ransomware?

Ransomware is a type of malware that is a coined word that combines ransom and software. Ransomware is sometimes referred to as a "ransom-demanding fraudulent program." The name comes from the fact that it imposes certain restrictions on PCs infected with ransomware and demands money in exchange for lifting the restrictions. When this malware first appeared, it was targeted at the general public. However, the number of cases targeting large companies that can expect a large amount of ransom has increased, and there are also cases that can be called a serious threat, such as infecting PCs of private companies and public institutions.

Two Types of Ransomware

Two types of ransomware have been identified: "lock screen" and "encrypted". Lock screen ransomware interferes with PC operation by displaying images or web pages across the screen. It has confused users by displaying the logo of a well-known company in the warning text to create a legal atmosphere.

Cryptographic ransomware, on the other hand, is not widespread but requires payment by encrypting files to prevent them from being opened. In some cases, ransomware led victims to malicious websites and prompted them to install ransomware. Of course, you can download fonts or pretend to be security software and get into your PC so that you don't recognize it as ransomware.

Difference Between Ransomware and Malware

Malware is an abbreviation for (malicious software) and refers to software created for the purpose of causing problems with PCs and smartphones.

Ransomware is a Type of Malware

Ransomware is one of several existing malware. On a PC infected with ransomware, the user's system access will be restricted.

Ransomware has several types of infection spread patterns, such as vulnerabilities that exploit OS vulnerabilities and evolutionary types that repeatedly update.

Malware Type

Virus

Viruses, also called computer viruses, are malware that rewrites parts of a program and self-propagates. It invades from the attached file of the e-mail, but since it cannot self-proliferate, it proliferates by tampering with a part of the existing program.

In the past, when infected with a virus, it was possible to immediately notify the infection because some abnormality was displayed on the screen of the PC. However, in recent years, there has been an increasing number of cases in which files are tampered with invisible immediately, or files with viruses are unintentionally sent to others to infect other PCs. I will.

Worm

Worms are a type of self-propagating malware, and once infected, they infect other PCs one after another by accessing an unspecified number of IP addresses via a network. Unlike viruses, it can exist alone without infesting other programs, so it is called a worm (meaning an elongated insect without legs).

The most common route of infection for worms is via email attachments. Some worms infect just by connecting to the network, making it difficult to deal with.

Trojan

Trojan horses are malware that infiltrates the inside of your computer by spoofing harmless image files, text, and smartphone applications, pretending to be non-malicious programs. It can be infected by opening a file without thinking that it is harmful, or by downloading it as a useful application.

Viruses cannot operate without existing files and programs, but Trojan horses that can act as standalone software are malware that does not require files or programs. It also differs from viruses in that it does not have the ability to multiply by itself.

Spyware

Spyware is malware that does not have the ability to multiply by itself like viruses and worms and is mainly intended for information gathering. It is often installed on a PC without noticing it, and it is difficult to deal with damage immediately.

For this reason, spyware is also characterized by the fact that corporate information leaks spread without being aware of the infection, and the damage is likely to increase. Companies that handle a lot of customer information and confidential information need to take measures against spyware with a particular sense of crisis.

To protect your data from malware like dangerous ransomware you have to install an advanced antivirus.