Crimeware is malicious software used to automate cybercrime, with identity theft and financial information harvesting being common targets. It differs from other threats as it facilitates identity theft and can infiltrate online accounts. Users can protect themselves by keeping software up-to-date, monitoring emails, and installing antivirus software.
Crimeware is a type of malicious software. Its purpose is to automate cybercrime. Identity theft and the harvesting of personal and financial information are common targets of people using crimeware. There are several ways computer users can become victims of this type of malicious program, but there are also some easy ways to protect yourself from targeted attacks.
Crimeware differs from other computer threats such as spyware, adware and other types of malware in that it is used to facilitate identity theft. When it completes this task, it can then infiltrate a victim’s online accounts to gain access to personal and financial information. Many of the accounts targeted are those associated with financial institutions or online retailers, although the networks themselves can also be targets for cybercrime. Thieves can take the collected information and commit crimes such as diverting funds from bank accounts or making unauthorized purchases.
The methods by which crimeware collects confidential, critical, and financial information vary. Keystroke loggers can be installed on a victim’s computer to log keystrokes that can provide clues to usernames and passwords. A user’s browser can be compromised by automatically leading the user to fraudulent websites, even if the user types in a correct Uniform Resource Locator (URL). Some programs can detect and collect passwords that have been stored in a computer’s cache. Crimeware can also gain remote access to networks, threatening servers and clients and allowing an attacker to gather information from anywhere.
A user can be threatened by crimeware in many ways. Many crimeware threats are sent via email and appear to be legitimate correspondence, but these emails are often accompanied by malicious programs attached to the email that kick into action once opened. Vulnerabilities in web browsers can also be exploited to harvest passwords and monitor Internet activity. Open ports on peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing networks are often a source of unwanted malware, as open ports can be used to install unwanted programs.
There are, however, simple ways a person can protect themselves from the threats of crimeware. Users must ensure that they are always running the most up-to-date version of their web browsers and operating systems. They should monitor their email closely and not open emails from unrecognized addresses or addresses that look familiar but are still suspicious. Installing a good antivirus program can help a user detect threats that may have been accidentally downloaded onto a user’s computer system.
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