14.7.1 Malware

Learn about the different types of malicious software and the danger they pose to computer networks.

Malware infection of a computer system can lead to data destruction, data theft, financial theft, and more. It's incredibly dangerous because it takes multiple forms.

• Virus
• Trojan-Horse
• Keylogger
• Spyware
• Crypto-Miner
• Rootkit
• Ransomware

Use Windows Defender, kids.

Defending Against an Infection

Below lists the best practice for defending a system that has been infected with malware.

• Investigate & Verify Malware Symptoms
  • slow running system
  • renamed/deleted/altered files
  • heavy network traffic
  • lost Internet access
  • pop-up ads
  • false anti-virus software
• Quarantine the Infected System
  • remove the device from the network
  • disconnect shared drives and other connected device
  • maybe: remove the hard drive; transfer to sheep-dip computer
• Remediation
  • disable system restore, since apparently malware programs will embed themselves in past images saved by system restore
  • verify that you have an up-to-date antivirus program and run it

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