Almost every Internet user knows that computer viruses are dangerous. And yet, every now and then, he or she will come across some Trojan in another spam letter to the e-mail. Or some worm or bot will get to the computer or the site.
Viruses, Trojans, worms and bots pose a threat to users' personal data, the integrity of devices, and promise financial and reputational losses. Search engines, antivirus programs and advertising platforms block fraudulent sites and applications and components infected with malicious code.
To avoid becoming a victim of cybercriminals, we recommend that you learn how to protect yourself from these malicious programs.
Contents
1. What is malware?
1.1 Trojans
1.2. How to protect yourself from Trojans
1.3. Computer viruses
1.4. How digital viruses spread
1.5. How to protect your device from viruses
1.6. Worms
1.7. How to protect your device from worms
1.8. Bots
1.9. How to protect ads from bots
2. And in the end
So, below we have put together a quick guide to help you understand Trojans, viruses, bots and worms.
The computer version of a Trojan horse, or Trojan, is a form of malware that hides on a user's device until a specific trigger is triggered, after which it begins performing a specific task. This trigger can be a specified time, an action on the user's device, or a command from the attacker, after which the virus is activated.
And since the Trojan is already "located" outside the walls of your home, it can freely do whatever it wants. Fortunately, it has not yet learned to kill. The Trojan virus is capable of:
A notable example of a Trojan virus used for click fraud is MIUREF. It was spotted back in 2013 and is still active. More specifically, MIUREF was used to grow the 3ve and Methbot botnets during the most infamous organized click fraud attack
To avoid infection of your computer system with a Trojan:
The terms "computer virus" and "malware" are interchangeable. However, the latter is a type of software that contains code for one of the malicious components listed in this article.
Like Trojans, viruses penetrate user devices (personal computers and smartphones) through downloads. They can be transmitted to the device through mobile applications, browser extensions, EXE files attached to emails, and through dirty hands. Well, yes, let's agree, the latter does not apply to them.
A particularly popular way to spread viruses is through viral content. For example, popular images, audio files or videos. Therefore, the most likely way to infect a computer is to send emails with an infected gif, video or meme image.
Not long ago, an interesting piece of malware was discovered in the Google Play app store. The principle of operation was as follows: the user installed a “clean” application on the phone, which downloaded malicious code during the update. The virus then displayed intrusive advertising, performed other fraudulent actions in the background on the user’s device without his knowledge, etc.
Another way to spread the virus is through SQL injection. In this case, bots are used to add malicious code to the software package of the application or on the website.
Sitting in the user's device, worms scan the local network or search for access to the Internet for possible vulnerabilities and access to other computers, smartphones, etc. Since they constantly perform the scanning process, they slow down the user's device, drain the battery, can cause a failure, and even disable it.
Although a worm cannot perform specific malicious actions, it does exploit security flaws on a user's device and introduce other viruses or bots into the computer network. Like many forms of malware listed above, worms can also be triggered by a "logic bomb" (a command that triggers it at a specific time or event).
For example, a computer worm may lie dormant on a device until the user types a certain key combination or updates a certain program. Once this happens, the worm activates and begins to carry out its malicious activity.
Run a regular antivirus scan of your device regularly to check for viruses and worms on your PC and phone.
Almost certainly, each of us uses software with bots on a daily basis. For example, search engines, where a crawler robot scans websites. Or have you ever had to ask questions and create requests in online chats or support services, where a robot gives answers. And they are also used in messengers, for example, to search for audiobooks.
Speaking of bad bots, like other computer viruses, malicious bots are often embedded in the code of applications, browser extensions, software. Once users install a certain number of these bots (belonging to the same attacker), they are networked together through a command and control (C&C) center to carry out malicious actions.
Then the operator of this botnet (network of bots) can perform the following actions with their help:
Service specializes in protecting advertising from malicious bot actions and fraud with clicks and impressions. The algorithms of our tool detect fraudulent attacks carried out by click farms, botnets and competitors, the purpose of which is to spend the advertising budget, collapse statistics and conversion.
In click fraud, bad bots are programmed to click on ads multiple times. Think of each of those clicks as money being taken out of your pocket. That's why they're called bad bots.
When it comes to protecting advertising campaigns, blocking bots should become a daily task for advertisers and marketers. The share of invalid traffic for advertising can be up to 30%. This means one thing - losing a third of the budget to fraudsters.
Borfaqtor service algorithms register each transition on advertising, analyze the device, behavior, geolocation of the visitor. In general, the service checks each transition on 100 technical and behavioral parameters. Detected bots are blocked.
Botfaqtor checks not only transitions, but also the quality of sites. The advertiser can block sources with a high percentage of invalid traffic, based on the service's reports.
If you place ads in Yandex.Direct and Google Adwords, run diagnostics of your campaign. You can do this for free for 7 days. Check how often you are clicked by bots and how much money and potential profit you are losing.
One of the easiest ways to monetize botnets and malware is click/impression fraud in advertising. Attackers create an entire network of devices infected with malware and monetize their infrastructure.
Blocking unwanted traffic in advertising campaigns can reduce the threat level and protect against cybercriminals.
Malicious bots can perform all sorts of fraudulent actions on websites, including searching for security vulnerabilities and backdoors. That's why blocking bots is a top priority for anyone doing business online.
Well, don't forget about the simplest rules that we wrote above. Let's remind them once again:
Viruses, Trojans, worms and bots pose a threat to users' personal data, the integrity of devices, and promise financial and reputational losses. Search engines, antivirus programs and advertising platforms block fraudulent sites and applications and components infected with malicious code.
To avoid becoming a victim of cybercriminals, we recommend that you learn how to protect yourself from these malicious programs.
Contents
1. What is malware?
1.1 Trojans
1.2. How to protect yourself from Trojans
1.3. Computer viruses
1.4. How digital viruses spread
1.5. How to protect your device from viruses
1.6. Worms
1.7. How to protect your device from worms
1.8. Bots
1.9. How to protect ads from bots
2. And in the end
What is malware
When it comes to classifying malicious computer programs (English malware) and their operating principle, it is not at all necessary to delve into encyclopedias and large detailed articles on IT portals. But it is very important to know what digital threat they pose and how to avoid encountering them.So, below we have put together a quick guide to help you understand Trojans, viruses, bots and worms.
Trojans
You may remember the ancient Greek myth of the wooden Trojan horse. The term comes from Homer's epic poem, the Iliad. The Achaeans used a military trick by building a horse and putting their soldiers inside it. The unsuspecting Trojans accepted the gift of the Achaean people, and that night the Achaeans killed all the Trojans.The computer version of a Trojan horse, or Trojan, is a form of malware that hides on a user's device until a specific trigger is triggered, after which it begins performing a specific task. This trigger can be a specified time, an action on the user's device, or a command from the attacker, after which the virus is activated.
And since the Trojan is already "located" outside the walls of your home, it can freely do whatever it wants. Fortunately, it has not yet learned to kill. The Trojan virus is capable of:
- steal information and personal data;
- delete files;
- perform tasks through a proxy - for example, mine cryptocurrency;
- be used for click fraud;
- distribute other malicious files;
- exploit system vulnerabilities and inject agents into databases.
A notable example of a Trojan virus used for click fraud is MIUREF. It was spotted back in 2013 and is still active. More specifically, MIUREF was used to grow the 3ve and Methbot botnets during the most infamous organized click fraud attack
How to protect yourself from Trojans
Like its prototype, a Trojan virus gets onto a device only with the consent of its owner. That is, to infect a computer with a Trojan, you need to:- download or open a file that contains malicious code;
- run software downloaded from an unverified source;
- connect a USB flash drive containing malware to the device.
To avoid infection of your computer system with a Trojan:
- Do not download or run suspicious files and programs unless you are 100% sure of their source.
- Be careful with other people's removable media and do not connect your USB devices to other computers. There are known cases when computer viruses, including Trojans, infected USB flash drives.
- Use antivirus software and regularly scan your devices for Trojans.
Computer viruses
Like real infectious viruses, these insidious pieces of digital code are capable of spreading, penetrating the codes of other programs, reproducing themselves, and even mutating and evolving. This form of virus program remains unnoticed by the user and can perform any action.The terms "computer virus" and "malware" are interchangeable. However, the latter is a type of software that contains code for one of the malicious components listed in this article.
Like Trojans, viruses penetrate user devices (personal computers and smartphones) through downloads. They can be transmitted to the device through mobile applications, browser extensions, EXE files attached to emails, and through dirty hands. Well, yes, let's agree, the latter does not apply to them.
A particularly popular way to spread viruses is through viral content. For example, popular images, audio files or videos. Therefore, the most likely way to infect a computer is to send emails with an infected gif, video or meme image.
How Digital Viruses Spread
Viruses are capable of stealing software or searching for and exploiting vulnerabilities in computer systems and networks. They can then proceed to perform the following tasks:- distribution of infected software files on the user's device (for example, email clients);
- scanning the computer and stealing personal data, as well as reading the key combinations that the user presses, etc.;
- performing DDoS attacks.
Not long ago, an interesting piece of malware was discovered in the Google Play app store. The principle of operation was as follows: the user installed a “clean” application on the phone, which downloaded malicious code during the update. The virus then displayed intrusive advertising, performed other fraudulent actions in the background on the user’s device without his knowledge, etc.
Another way to spread the virus is through SQL injection. In this case, bots are used to add malicious code to the software package of the application or on the website.
How to protect your device from viruses
Like any malware, protecting yourself from computer viruses requires a little attention and, mostly, common sense:- Do not download software from untrusted sources.
- Do not open files attached to emails from unknown persons.
- As for Android apps, download them only from the official Google Play website. It is advisable to check their quality (reviews, official developer website, privacy policy, etc.) before installing. Check if the app displays forced ads.
Worms
A network (computer) worm is a form of malware, or more precisely, a component that reproduces itself and spreads across networks. They, like viruses and Trojans, are designed to perform malicious actions.Sitting in the user's device, worms scan the local network or search for access to the Internet for possible vulnerabilities and access to other computers, smartphones, etc. Since they constantly perform the scanning process, they slow down the user's device, drain the battery, can cause a failure, and even disable it.
Although a worm cannot perform specific malicious actions, it does exploit security flaws on a user's device and introduce other viruses or bots into the computer network. Like many forms of malware listed above, worms can also be triggered by a "logic bomb" (a command that triggers it at a specific time or event).
For example, a computer worm may lie dormant on a device until the user types a certain key combination or updates a certain program. Once this happens, the worm activates and begins to carry out its malicious activity.
How to protect your device from worms
Again, you need to be careful and use a bit of common sense:- Do not download incomprehensible documents and exe files.
- Do not download applications from unofficial sources.
- Do not run files attached to emails from unverified senders. Especially if they ended up in the spam folder.
- Do not follow links in messengers if the sender is unknown to you.
- Don't download pirated software from sites that are full of pop-ups and ads - these are all breeding grounds for worms and viruses.
Run a regular antivirus scan of your device regularly to check for viruses and worms on your PC and phone.
Bots
Bots (short for robots) are pieces of code programmed to perform a specific task. There are good bots and bad bots. Generally, most are used for useful work.Almost certainly, each of us uses software with bots on a daily basis. For example, search engines, where a crawler robot scans websites. Or have you ever had to ask questions and create requests in online chats or support services, where a robot gives answers. And they are also used in messengers, for example, to search for audiobooks.
Speaking of bad bots, like other computer viruses, malicious bots are often embedded in the code of applications, browser extensions, software. Once users install a certain number of these bots (belonging to the same attacker), they are networked together through a command and control (C&C) center to carry out malicious actions.
Then the operator of this botnet (network of bots) can perform the following actions with their help:
- Denial of service attack (DDoS).
- Advertising fraud (clicking on ads, boosting views, generating fake leads, etc.).
- Stealing user credentials or files on devices.
- Hacking and infecting other devices on the network and growing a botnet.
- Gaining access to IoT (Internet of Things) devices and collecting data.
Service specializes in protecting advertising from malicious bot actions and fraud with clicks and impressions. The algorithms of our tool detect fraudulent attacks carried out by click farms, botnets and competitors, the purpose of which is to spend the advertising budget, collapse statistics and conversion.
In click fraud, bad bots are programmed to click on ads multiple times. Think of each of those clicks as money being taken out of your pocket. That's why they're called bad bots.
How to protect your ads from bots
As with all malware, protecting yourself from bots requires care and caution:- We recommend that regular users regularly scan their devices with antivirus software.
- Again, check the quality of applications in Google Play and App Store.
- Website owners are advised to analyze and filter traffic.
- We encourage advertisers to use automated tools to protect against ad fraud.
When it comes to protecting advertising campaigns, blocking bots should become a daily task for advertisers and marketers. The share of invalid traffic for advertising can be up to 30%. This means one thing - losing a third of the budget to fraudsters.
Borfaqtor service algorithms register each transition on advertising, analyze the device, behavior, geolocation of the visitor. In general, the service checks each transition on 100 technical and behavioral parameters. Detected bots are blocked.
Botfaqtor checks not only transitions, but also the quality of sites. The advertiser can block sources with a high percentage of invalid traffic, based on the service's reports.
If you place ads in Yandex.Direct and Google Adwords, run diagnostics of your campaign. You can do this for free for 7 days. Check how often you are clicked by bots and how much money and potential profit you are losing.
And in the end
Digital threats exist because cybercrime and online fraud are now huge money makers, with hackers and scammers using any number of methods and technologies, from ransomware to identity theft and click fraud.One of the easiest ways to monetize botnets and malware is click/impression fraud in advertising. Attackers create an entire network of devices infected with malware and monetize their infrastructure.
Blocking unwanted traffic in advertising campaigns can reduce the threat level and protect against cybercriminals.
Malicious bots can perform all sorts of fraudulent actions on websites, including searching for security vulnerabilities and backdoors. That's why blocking bots is a top priority for anyone doing business online.
Well, don't forget about the simplest rules that we wrote above. Let's remind them once again:
- Do not download files, including EXE, from questionable sites.
- Do not open files attached to emails from unknown senders. Such emails often end up in the Spam folder.
- Scan your devices regularly with antivirus software.
- Use tools to protect against click fraud and bot traffic.
