What are the characteristics of malware?

Malware is multi-functional and modular:there are many kinds of malware that can be used together or separately to achieve a malicious actor‟s goal. New features and additional capabilities are easily added to malware to alter and “improve” its functionality and impact.Malware can insert itself into a system, compromise the system, and then download additional malware from the Internet that provides increased functionality. Malware can be used to control an entire host or network, it can bypass security measures such as firewalls and anti-virus software, and it can use encryption to avoid detection or conceal its means of operation.

Malware is available and user-friendly:malware is available online at a nominal cost thus making it possible for almost anyone to acquire.There is even arobust underground market for its sale and purchase.Further more,malware is user-friendly and provides attackers with a capability to launch sophisticated attacks beyond their skill level.

Malware is persistent and efficient:malware is increasingly difficult to detect and remove and is effective at defeating built-in information security counter-measures. Some forms of malware can defeat strong forms of multi-factor authentication and others have been able to undermine the effectiveness of digital certificates.

Malware can affect a range of devices:because malware is nothing more than a piece of software, it can affect a range of devices, from personal devices such as personal computers (PCs) or Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) to servers across different types of networks. All these devices, including the routers that allow traffic to move across the Internet to other end points, are potentially vulnerable to malware attacks.

Malware is part of a broader cyber attack system:malware is being used both as a primary form of cyber attack and to support other forms of malicious activity and cybercrime such as spam and phishing. Conversely, spam and phishing can be used to further distribute malware.

Malware is profitable:malware is no longer just a fun game for script kiddies or a field of study for researchers. Today,it is a serious business and source of revenue for malicious actors and criminals all over the world. Malware, together with other cyber tools and techniques, provides a low cost, reusable method of conducting highly lucrative forms of cybercrime.