Adware & Ransonware

 ADWARE

Adware is a type of malware. At its least dangerous, it will attempt to flood an end-user with unwanted advertising. 

For example, it could redirect a user’s browser to a fake website that contains promotional advertising. 

They can be in the form of pop-ups, or appear in the browser’s toolbar thus redirecting the search request.

Although not necessarily harmful, adware can:

» highlight weaknesses in a user’s security defences

» be hard to remove – they defeat most anti-malware software because it can be

difficult to determine whether or not they are harmful

» hijack a browser and create its own default search requests.

RANSOMWARE

Essentially, ransomware are programs that encrypt data on a user’s computer and

‘hold the data hostage’. The cybercriminal just waits until the ransom money is

paid and, sometimes, the decryption key is then sent to the user. It has caused

considerable damage to some companies and individuals.

Imagine a situation where you log on to your computer, only to find the screen

is locked and you cannot boot up your computer until the demands of the

cybercriminal have been met. The malware restricts access to the computer

and encrypts all the data until a ransom is paid. It may be installed on a user’s

computer by way of a Trojan horse or through social engineering.

When ransomware is executed, it either encrypts files straightaway or it waits for

a while to determine how much of a ransom the victim can afford. The malware

can be prevented by the usual methods (for example, by avoiding phishing

emails); but once it is executed, it is almost impossible to reverse the damage

caused. The best way to avoid a catastrophe is to ensure regular backups of key

files are kept and therefore avoid having to pay a ransom.