Virus and Malware Types

Question 1

Malicious code that runs on a machine without the user’s knowledge and infects the computer when executed

Answer 1

Virus

Question 2

Type of virus that is stored in the first sector of a hard drive and loaded into memory upon boot

Answer 2

Boot Sector Virus

Question 3

Type of virus that is embedded into a document and executed when the document is opened by the user

Answer 3

Macro Virus

Question 4

Virus that infects an executable or program

Answer 4

Program Virus

Question 5

Combination of boot sector and program virus - loads itself upon boot and can install itself in a program. Gives persistence and redundancy to the virus

Answer 5

Multipartite Virus

Question 6

Advanced encrypted virus that changes itself every time it is executed by altering the decryption module to avoid detection

Answer 6

Polymorphic Virus

Question 7

Virus that is able to rewrite itself entirely before it attempts to infect a file - advanced version of polymorphic

Answer 7

Metamorphic Virus

Question 8

Virus that has a layer of protection to confuse a program or person analyzing it

Answer 8

Armored Virus

Question 9

Social Engineering that fakes a virus/infection in order to convince a user to run a program that contains actual malware

Answer 9

Hoax Virus

Question 10

Virus that uses encryption to protect itself

Answer 10

Encrypted Virus

Question 11

Malware that self-replicates without user interaction

Answer 11

Worm

Question 12

Type of malware that is disguised as a piece of harmless or desired software

Answer 12

Trojan

Question 13

Malware that holds a user’s data/system hostage by restricting access until payment is given by user

Answer 13

Ransomware

Question 14

Malware that secretly gathers information on a user without consent

Answer 14

Spyware

Question 15

Malware designed to gain administrative level control over a system without detection.

Answer 15

Rootkit

Question 16

Activity that abuses electronic messaging systems, mostly email

Answer 16

Spam

Question 17

Taking advantage of a misspelled URL and directing the user to a potentially malicious page

Answer 17

Typosquatting

Question 18

the fraudulent practice of sending emails or other messages purporting to be from reputable companies in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers or to unknowingly install malware

Answer 18

Phishing

Question 19

Phishing involving voice calls

Answer 19

Vishing

Question 20

A type of phishing that targets an important individual like the CEO of an organization

Answer 20

Whaling

Question 21

type of phishing campaign that targets a specific person or group and often will include information known to be of interest to the target, such as current events or financial documents.

Answer 21

Spear Phishing

Question 22

Phishing through text messages

Answer 22

Smishing

Question 23

a network of private computers infected with malicious software and controlled as a group without the owners’ knowledge, e.g., to send spam messages.

Answer 23

Botnet

Question 24

Mechanism used to bypass normal authentication and security functions

Answer 24

Backdoor

Question 25

Remote access trojans (RATs) are malware designed to allow an attacker to remotely control an infected computer.

Answer 25

RAT - Remote Access Trojan

Question 26

Malicious code that has been inserted inside a program and will execute only when certain conditions are met

Answer 26

Logic Bomb

Question 27

What is PUP

Answer 27

Potentially Unwanted Program- not specifically defined as malware (think of mac keeper)

Question 28

A malware-infected network host under remote control of a hacker is commonly referred to as:

Answer 28

Bot

Question 29

A technique used by certain types of malware to cause an error in a program and make it easier to run malicious code.

Answer 29

Buffer Overflow

Question 30

An older type of computer virus which doesn’t alter files and works by creating infected companion file with the exact same name as the legitimate program, but with different file extension.

Answer 30

Companion Virus

Question 31

A type of Trojan designed to transfer other malware onto a PC via Internet connection.

Answer 31

Downloader

Question 32

A computer virus that actively attacks an antivirus program in an effort to prevent detection.

Answer 32

Retrovirus

Question 33

A computer program not explicitly classified as malware by an antivirus software.

Answer 33

PUP