Malware is an umbrella term for most computer viruses including ransomware, scareware, spyware, trojans, worms, and other variations of malicious software created to exploit any device and harvest personal information, steal money, blackmail, or damage other people’s files.
Some malware programs are even designed to leech another user’s hardware capacity to mine cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.
There are several ways to get a device infected with malware. Oftentimes, they are downloaded and executed by accident from suspicious email attachments, corrupted files, fake software, USB drives, and malicious advertisements, etc.
Ransomware programs are increasingly becoming the most notorious forms of malware in recent times. Ransomware hackers start out by compromising a user’s device, then extort the owner for money before allowing them to regain access. It was so widespread that there have been numerous reports claiming that the growing Bitcoin demand funnels $1.4 billion to the US ransomware industry.