All You Want to Know about Malware, Ransomware, and Phishing

Cyber attacks on businesses and individuals are on the rise. As technology advances, cybercriminals look for more sophisticated ways to carry out their attacks. Today's cyber world is witnessing rapid advancement in attack techniques. As a result, organizations have no choice but to protect themselves against these evolving threats.

Fremont, CA: Malware and ransomware are common threats to business continuity. People frequently use these terms interchangeably, but they are not the same.

This raises an interesting question: Is there a distinction between malware and ransomware? And how does phishing fit in with these two types of attacks?

Ransomware

Ransomware is malware that prevents users from accessing their data by locking down the entire system or encrypting files. The attacker then demands a ransom to reestablish access.

Most of the time, the attacker threatens to release restricted data if the ransom is not paid. They frequently request payment in bitcoin (or another cryptocurrency) because of its anonymity.

Malware

The term "malware" is a combination of "malicious" and "software." It refers to any intruding programme intended to harm or compromise computer systems. So, what exactly is the distinction between malware and viruses?

Malware is a broad term that refers to various malicious software variants such as trojans, viruses, spyware, ransomware, worms, and adware. Malware can be used by cyber attackers for various purposes, including identity theft, denial-of-service attacks, and another financial gain.

Phishing

Many people are confused about the distinction between phishing and malware. So, to make things easier, let's define phishing.

Phishing is a social engineering technique cybercriminals use to manipulate people's emotions. It is a type of attack where the hacker sends a victim malicious emails, text messages, or links. They pose as a legitimate organization to trick people into disclosing Personal Identifiable Information (PII) such as credit card numbers, medical records, and financial information.

Malware vs. Ransomware

Without a doubt, ransomware and malware are malicious software that can harm your business. But what are the distinctions?

Ransomware differs from malware in some ways, such as its variant type, impact, removal difficulty, and delivery mechanism.