The most common malware attacks of 2018
According to Microsoft, the most common malware attacks seen in 2018 were from the families of viruses known as WannaCry, NotPetya, and BadRabbit. These families of viruses are all based on the same exploit, known as EternalBlue, which was developed by the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) and leaked online in April of 2017. WannaCry was the first major malware attack to use EternalBlue, and it struck in May of 2017, affecting tens of thousands of computers in over 150 countries. NotPetya was the next major attack to use EternalBlue, and it struck in June of 2017, affecting thousands of computers in Ukraine, Russia, and Europe. BadRabbit was the most recent major attack to use EternalBlue, and it struck in October of 2017, affecting hundreds of computers in Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, and Germany.
While WannaCry, NotPetya, and BadRabbit were the most common malware attacks seen in 2018, they were far from the only ones. In fact, there were over 12,000 different families of malware discovered in 2018, and each one of them had the potential to cause serious damage. Some of the other notable malware attacks seen in 2018 include:
• Emotet: Emotet is a trojan horse that targets Windows computers. It is typically spread via email attachments or through malicious links. Once on a computer, Emotet can steal sensitive information, such as login credentials and banking information. Emotet was first discovered in 2014, but it saw a major resurgence in 2018, with over 4 million infections reported.
• Kryptowire: Kryptowire is a piece of malware that targets Android devices. It is typically bundled with legitimate Android apps, which are then distributed through third-party app stores. Once installed on a device, Kryptowire can collect sensitive information, such as text messages, phone calls, and GPS location data. Kryptowire was first discovered in 2016, but it saw a major increase in activity in 2018, with over 500,000 devices affected.
• TrickBot: TrickBot is a piece of malware that targets Windows computers. It is typically spread via email attachments or through malicious links. Once on a computer, TrickBot can steal sensitive information, such as login credentials and banking information. TrickBot was first discovered in 2016, but it saw a major increase in activity in 2018, with over 1 million infections reported.
As you can see, there was no shortage of malware attacks in 2018. While some of these attacks were more disruptive than others, all of them had the potential to cause serious damage. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to protect yourself from malware attacks. Some of the best things you can do include:
• Keep your software up to date: One of the best ways to protect yourself from malware attacks is to make sure your software is up to date. This includes both your operating system and any applications you have installed. attackers often target software that is out of date, as it is more likely to have security vulnerabilities that can be exploited.
• Use a antivirus: Another great way to protect yourself from malware attacks is to use a antivirus. Antiviruses can detect and remove malware before it has a chance to do any damage. There are many great antiviruses available, so be sure to do your research to find one that best suits your needs.
• Be cautious online: One of the most common ways malware is spread is through malicious links and email attachments. Be sure to only click on links from trusted sources, and be cautious when opening email attachments. If you’re not sure if a link or attachment is safe, it’s best to err on the side of caution and not click on it..Click Here
The psychological effects of malware
The psychological effects of malware can be far-reaching and devastating. While the physical effects of malware are often immediately apparent, the psychological effects can be much more subtle and can often go undetected for long periods of time. Malware can cause a person to experience a range of psychological symptoms, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Anxiety is a common psychological reaction to malware infections. Infections can cause people to feel anxious about their personal information being compromised, their computer being damaged, or their ability to function normally. In severe cases, anxiety can lead to panic attacks.
Depression is also a common psychological reaction to malware infections. Depression can be caused by the fear of being infected, the loss of important data, or the damage to one’s computer. Depression can also be caused by the inability to remove the malware from one’s computer.
PTSD is a less common, but nonetheless real, psychological reaction to malware infections. PTSD can be caused by the fear of being infected, the loss of important data, the damage to one’s computer, or the inability to remove the malware from one’s computer. PTSD can also be caused by witnessing the infection of others.
The psychological effects of malware can be far-reaching and debilitating. If you or someone you know is showing signs of anxiety, depression, or PTSD, it is important to seek professional help. These conditions can be treated, but left untreated, they can worsen.
Visit malwarezero.org to learn more about malware. Disclaimer: We used this website as a reference for this blog post.