![]() A backdoor virus or remote access Trojan ( RAT) secretly creates a backdoor into an infected computer system that enables threat actors to remotely access it without alerting the user or the system's security programs.Once installed, the program gives threat actors root or privileged access to the system. A rootkit obtains administrator-level access to the victim's system.Cybercriminals then demand a ransom payment from the victim in exchange for decrypting the system's data. Ransomware infects a user's system and encrypts its data.Spyware collects information and data on the device and user, as well as observes the user's activity without their knowledge. ![]() Once activated following installation, Trojans can execute their malicious functions. A Trojan horse is designed to appear as a legitimate software program to gain access to a system.A worm can self-replicate without a host program and typically spreads without any interaction from the malware authors. ![]() A virus is the most common type of malware that can execute itself and spread by infecting other programs or files.A diagram of the various types of malware.ĭifferent types of malware have unique traits and characteristics. More sophisticated threats include polymorphic malware that can repeatedly change its underlying code to avoid detection from signature-based detection tools anti- sandbox techniques that enable malware to detect when it is being analyzed and to delay execution until after it leaves the sandbox and fileless malware that resides only in the system's RAM to avoid being discovered. Some of these evasion techniques rely on simple tactics, such as using web proxies to hide malicious traffic or source IP addresses. Sophisticated malware attacks often feature the use of a command-and-control server that enables threat actors to communicate with the infected systems, exfiltrate sensitive data and even remotely control the compromised device or server.Įmerging strains of malware include new evasion and obfuscation techniques designed to not only fool users, but also security administrators and antimalware products. Such attacks are likely to continue for the coming years, especially as most companies migrate their infrastructure to centrally-managed cloud-based systems.Phishing attacks are another common type of malware delivery where emails disguised as legitimate messages contain malicious links or attachments that deliver the malware executable file to unsuspecting users. Supply-chain attacks are today's top threat, and government agencies in the US and France have recently issued alerts about an ongoing campaign perpetrated by Chinese hackers. "We believe all global software companies, including both Microsoft and us at Avast, will need to continue to vigilantly protect our networks from attacks by those who seek to damage us and our users," Avast told us.īut Avast and TeamViewer aren't the only companies that have been targeted only to serve as a jumping point into the network of other companies. As long as an app is good at its job, hackers are going to keep coming. As the company told ZDNet, the threats it's facing are no different than what its competitors are facing.įor example, TeamViewer, which offers an eponymously named product, also suffered a security breach at the hands of Chinese hackers back in 2016. However, this huge userbase is also the reason why Avast bought it in the first place.Īvast's plan of attack involves bolstering its security. ![]() The app's gigantic userbase makes CCleaner a perfect target for supply-chain attacks. ![]() It's an all-in-one system administration toolkit, and one very good at its job, if we're to look at its download numbers. The app now supports remote management features, hard drive defragmentation, email alerts, cloud-based management features, and many more. However, as previously stated in this article, today, CCleaner is more than just a "useless" registry cleaner. In the light of this second hack, many users have expressed their opinions today, claiming that Avast should just retire CCleaner, as the app is only a magnet for state-sponsored hackers, and that the app has no real purpose (many consider registry cleaner apps as being useless or plain harmful). While Avast refrained from attributing the attack to any threat actor, the Czech Security Information Service (BIS), the country's intelligence service, said in a press release today that Chinese hackers were behind this attack, just like in the first. The company is still investigating this second breach but said that hackers weren't successful at pushing out a malicious CCleaner release today. This was their entry point inside Avast's network. Avast said hackers compromised an employee's VPN credentials to access a temporary VPN profile that was left active and without 2FA protection. ![]()
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