Malware is a term created to encompass a wide variety of types of malware such as computer viruses, worms, Trojan horses, ransomware, spyware, adware, rogue software, and scareware. The problem with malware is that these programs continue to evolve on a continuous basis, with each iteration becoming more dangerous.
For Calendar Year 2020, Safety Detectives made a list of the most dangerous computer viruses and new malware threats which included:
- 1Clop Ransomware. Clop is malware which encrypts your files until you pay a ransom to the hackers.
- 2Fake Windows Updates (Hidden Ransomware). Hackers have been increasingly sending emails that instruct readers to install urgent Windows OS updates. The emails trick readers into installing the “latest” Windows updates, which are actually ransomware ‘.exe’ files in disguise.
- 3Zeus Gameover. Zeus Gameover is part of the “Zeus” family of malware and viruses. This piece of malware is a Trojan — malware disguised as something legitimate — that accesses your sensitive bank account details and steals all of your funds.
- 4RaaS. “RaaS” — also known as “Ransomware as a Service” — is a growing industry in the underground hacker community. People without the knowledge to carry out a sophisticated ransomware attack can pay to hire a professional hacker or team of hackers to perform the attack for them.
- 5News Malware Attacks. Cybercriminals often use current news stories and global events to target people with malware. One example is hackers using the wave of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak to target individuals with malware. Hackers send out emails that are disguised as legitimate information about the outbreak. Readers are prompted to click a link to learn more about the information, but the link contains malware that copies the files on your device and steals your personal information.