Understanding Malware Types

Malware is malicious software designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to computer systems. The major categories are: Viruses (attach to legitimate files), Worms (self-replicating, spread across networks), Trojans (disguised as legitimate software), Ransomware (encrypts files and demands payment), Spyware (covertly collects user information), and Adware (displays unwanted advertisements).

Each malware type has distinct behavioral signatures that security tools look for. Modern malware often combines multiple types — for example, a trojan that downloads ransomware after establishing persistence.

Understanding how malware operates at a behavioral level — file system changes, registry modifications, network callbacks — is essential for both incident response and threat hunting.