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What is Malware: How It Works and Ways to Defend Against It

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Malware
Rajesh Kumar
Director – Service Delivery (Infra & Cloud Management)
May 19, 2025

Table of Content

Malware is a common problem in most computers today that lack effective security protocols. Malware infects systems with weak security systems and vulnerabilities that are not patched. It is sent through various sophisticated means to the victim’s computer system to compromise security and gain unauthorized access to system information to engage in various malicious activities.

What is Malware?

Malware is an acronym for “malicious software.” It is sent to your device or systems to infect it to steal information or identities, damage resources, and disrupt the services or normal functioning of a system or a device.

Recent Developments and Trends in Malware attacks

1. Ransomware is rising: Since 2020, there has been a significant rise in the number of recorded cases of ransomware attacks crippling computing systems. This year alone has witnessed a surge in ransomware attacks by 21% compared to 2024. Famous mentions include Codefinger ransomware, a popular ransomware attack on Amazon Web Services, and attacks on the education sector in the US due to a hack on Power Schools software.
Medusa Ransomware: This form of ransomware deploys its attack by phishing schemes to breach targets and by exploiting vulnerabilities in the system framework. The FBI and CISA have reported over 300 incidents relating to the Medusa ransomware.
2. Social Engineering powered by AI: It has been predicted that there will be a rise in AI-powered phishing attacks, such as voice phishing, popularly known as vishing, in the year 2025. This will make ransomware more challenging to predict, detect, and counter.
3. Targeted Ransomware: Sophisticated hacker outfits have begun targeting specific companies rather than launching a large-scale attack to infect computers en masse. It is done to target critical infrastructure such as healthcare, finance, energy, and manufacturing.
4. Rise in Malware Defense: The first quarter of 2025 has seen a rise in countermeasures against malware. These include exploits such as the NetSupport RAT, which is designed to defend against the ClickFix technique, and the Lynx Ransomware.
5. CTEM: Continuous Threat Exposure Management is a program conducted by organizations to counter and mitigate threat factors by identifying them across infrastructure and engaging in third-party relationships.

Different Types of Malware That Can Infect Your System?

Virus: A self-replicating program that infects systems, causing them to malfunction or crash.
Worms Can laterally move through your systems by exploiting vulnerabilities. They can compromise your systems’ security and cause widespread damage.
Trojans are malware that appear to be legitimate software but are actually malicious. They are deployed to access sensitive data and steal it. Trojans are programs developed to give hackers backdoor access to your systems.
Ransomware: It encrypts data and software and then demands payment to decrypt it.
Spyware: It is a type of malware that is installed in computers to give secret access to sensitive data such as information about identities, passwords, and financial details. It is mainly used to monitor system activities.
Adware: Adware is used to display ads and collect user information through intrusion.
Rootkits: A set of tools used to provide unauthorized access to computers and disable security software.

How Does Malware Manifest?

Malware is any malicious software that targets computer systems and networks. Hackers work by tricking users into downloading malware through phishing emails, fake ads, and software downloads containing malicious programs.

What are The Means of Deploying a Malware Attack on Unsuspecting Users?

  • Phishing attacks: Malware is injected into an unsuspecting user’s computer device by means of malicious emails or ads that encourage a user to download files or click on links that automatically download and install malicious software designed to gain unauthorized access, damage the system, or disrupt services that a system provides.
  • Social Engineering is a method of tricking users by engaging with them in conversations, eventually leading the user to install the malware on their systems.
  • Infected Websitesand unintentional downloads: Malware is found on many infected websites that install malicious software into your system when you visit them. They are also transmitted into your system when you click on malicious click-baits and unverified downloads that may contain harmful software that will compromise your system.
  • Removable Media: Removable media, such as disks and infected USB drives, can transmit malicious software into your system. Hackers also leave infected pen drives in a common area with an enticing label on them so unsuspecting users can try them on their computer systems and subsequently get infected with malware.
  • Software packages from third-party vendors: Users downloading software packages from unknown or unverified third-party websites risk infection by malware injected into the software bundles.
  • File sharing and Torrents:Downloading data from peer-to-peer file-sharing applications or websites can increase the risk of malware infection. Pirated website content can also contain malware and expose your computer systems to threats and vulnerabilities.
  • Malvertising: Real and legitimate ad networks can be taken over to deliver malware through ads.

Advanced Malware Techniques

  • Modern malware is insusceptible to most anti-malware software as it is encrypted and polymorphous to evade detection by security software.
  • Malware is known to exist in a fileless state, which means it resides in RAM to avoid detection. It is an evolved and advanced malware known to attack computers from within its core regions.

What is the Intent of Malware?

Malware is deployed to compromise systems by any means and installed into computer systems with malicious intent. It provides unauthorized access to networks and systems, damages resources, and can disrupt an organization’s services.
  • Stealing data: Hackers compromise systems to steal data such as identities, sensitive documents, and financial information such as credit card numbers.
  • Disruption: Malware includes ransomware, which encrypts computer systems and locks critical files. As the attackers demand, they will only hand over the keys to these files upon ransom payment.
  • Damage: Destruction of files or deletion is done as a part of sabotaging the capabilities of an organization or an individual.
  • Resource Exploitation: Infected devices are used for botnets and crypto mining.

Key Solutions to Protect Yourself from Malware attacks

Updates and Upgrades: To ensure a secure environment, your device’s software and operating system must be updated or upgraded periodically. Software, browsers, and operating systems must have the latest patches to deter malicious actors from gaining access to your systems and exploiting them.
Anti-Virus and security software: Install anti-virus and other security software that are known to secure your system by defending against malware infection. Ensure the anti-virus software is updated frequently to prevent any intrusions or infections.
Safe Downloads: Download only from reputed and well-known websites or app stores. Avoid downloading from third-party websites that could host malware. Do not ignore browser warnings about suspicious websites; do not download .exe and .bat files from unknown or third-party sites.
Email Security: Use advanced email security solutions to counter phishing attacks and accidental download of malicious files. Train your employees to identify suspicious emails and avoid clicking on links and files sent from unknown senders.
Network Segmentation: Segment your network so that malware cannot move laterally within it. Outbound traffic must be monitored for suspicious activities, such as communication with command-and-control servers.
Zero Trust Model: Adopt a no-trust model where all devices and users are continuously verified every time before they are given access to a system or a framework. Use multi-factor authentication to verify user identity and to confirm that it is not a malicious actor or a third-party software trying to gain access to your system.

Why CTOs and CIOs Must Not Ignore the Impending Threats to Their Systems from Malware.

Industry Specific Use Cases:

Healthcare Industry: Protecting patient data is an essential task for healthcare industries that are prone to malware attacks that steal sensitive patient data. Healthcare organizations can benefit from installing cutting-edge anti-malware protection, which is also done with tools like Cisco Secure Endpoint, which defends computer systems from malware attacks.
Financial Services Industry: Protection of sensitive financial information, including details of credit cards, identities, and passwords, is paramount to industries in the financial sector because transactions can be compromised, and any hacker can steal essential consumer data and use it for malicious purposes. Anti-malware tools like Sophos Intercept X can help defend against malware and unauthorized access, including network and system breaches.
Manufacturing and Industrial Control Systems: ICS systems are usually the prime targets of malware, which is used to infect systems in the industrial and manufacturing sectors. Implementing network segmentation and Zero-Trust Models can help prevent the spread of malware laterally across systems.
Education sector: Protecting student and faculty data is of key importance to schools and universities, which hold data pertaining to students and faculty and key research documents that are supposed to be kept secure and only for restricted private access. These are available on the cloud nowadays, so consider installing the Symantec Enterprise Cloud for data security.
Malware is known to have wreaked havoc and destroyed data and devices across nations; hence, it is for us to stay on our toes when dealing with anything related to the word “cyber.” Threats are constantly evolving and keeping up with technological developments. Thus, you need to be up to date on the latest solutions and offerings Korcompetenz offers to mitigate these threats and stay ahead of the game.

How do we at Korcompetenz Protect your Digital Assets?

At Korcompetenz, we offer tailored cybersecurity solutions for your organization’s varied needs. We safeguard your environment by detecting and responding to threats that can target your infrastructure and applications, protect your environment against vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and digital risks, and respond to breaches by restoring your environment to the pre-incident state.
Our cybersecurity consulting service offerings include Endpoint Protection, Network and Email Protection, Cloud Security Layers, Email Archiving and Backups, Identity and Access Management, Monitoring and Logging, Cybersecurity Testing, and Zero Trust Network Access.

So, contact us as soon as possible to secure your organization’s system framework and stay ahead of threats that could disrupt your services.

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    FAQs About Malware

    Malware is commonly spread through e-mail attachments, infected websites, malicious downloads, vulnerabilities in software and through removable media like USB, and other media.

    Slower system processes, unknown pop-up ads, unauthorized changes to files, unexplained redirects to suspicious websites, and frequent system crashes are some of the signs that your system is affected by malware.

    Ransomware works by encrypting your files and software which would only be decrypted by malicious actors upon the payment of a ransom as they demand.
    Yes, malware such as keyloggers and spyware are designed to steal your data such as credit card details, passwords, and personal identification data.
    • Disconnect from the internet to block the malware from spreading.
    • Run an antivirus program to scan for malware.
    • If the malware is found, remove it.
    • If the malware continues to exist, run a malware removal program or seek professional help.
    You can protect your devices from malware attacks by installing an anti-malware program, by keeping your software updated, with the use of firewalls, not downloading from suspicious websites, practicing safe browsing, and strengthening your account security.
    The industries most targeted by malware attacks include education, finance, retail, manufacturing, healthcare, government agencies, and energy sector.
    AI acts as a double-edge sword when it comes to malware attacks and cybersecurity. It is used for cybersecurity and by malicious actors to attack systems. Positive impacts include enhanced threat detection, predictive analysis, and behavioral analysis to name a few while negative impacts include AI-generated malware, sophisticated phishing, exploitation of vulnerabilities, and AI botnets.
    The Zero Trust Model assumes all incoming and outgoing connections to the system as malicious and hence, it gets its name from its behavior. It assumes all users, devices, systems inside and outside a network as malicious and hence every connection requires verification of identity, device condition, and access rights.

    Some of the most Famous mentions include Codefinger ransomware, a popular ransomware attack on Amazon Web Services, and attacks on the education sector in the US due to a hack on Power Schools software.

    And another is the Medusa Ransomware which is a form of ransomware that deploys its attack by phishing schemes to breach targets and by exploiting vulnerabilities in the system framework. The FBI and CISA have reported over 300 incidents relating to the Medusa ransomware.

    The lessons we learn from such attacks are to stay secure by investing in a robust cybersecurity system which includes software programs and best practices to be followed in organizations by creating awareness about cybersecurity and its importance.

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