Many cyber criminals rely on powerful tools known as crimeware to carry out their various scams and hacking operations, often for the purpose of illicit deeds involving blackmail, data theft and financial fraud.
But what exactly is crimeware? Let’s delve into the most common types, how cyber criminals use it to conduct attacks, and most importantly, how you can protect yourself against it.
What is Crimeware?
The term ‘Crimeware’ typically refers to sophisticated malware (malicious software) or code intentionally developed by hackers to help conduct various criminal activities over the internet. (We’ll explore the different types of crimeware shortly below.)
Hackers tend to rely on malware to carry out their illegal operations such as personal information theft, ransoms, remotely controlling infected devices, network poisoning, and covertly monitoring private/classified communications.
Crimeware can also refer to any hardware created for illegal cyber-related activities, with physical devices including skimmers and packet sniffers, and unassuming threats like hardware keyloggers and compromised USB drives.
Moreover, crimeware can refer to Crimeware-as-a-Service (CaaS), a type of cybercrime which involves hackers selling their tools and or services to less experienced individuals and groups, usually within dark web circles.
Most hackers use crimeware to carry out financially- or politically-motivated crimes, such as those involving data/identity theft and breaches of critical infrastructure; examples of attacks include Ransomware, Pharming, Cryptojacking, Session Hijacking and DDoS attacks.
How Does Crimeware Work?
Most crimeware functions like malware, purposefully built to infect and steal sensitive information on computers, smart devices and network systems, or to carry out other malicious activities like system disruption and espionage.
Crimeware usually infects systems through social engineering trickery – involving phishing tactics like scam emails and fake websites (containing malicious links and downloads) – and also zero-day exploits which target currently unpatched vulnerabilities in operating systems and applications.
Should crimeware find its way onto a victim’s system, it can behave much in the same way as malware, with dangerous programs capable of hiding, spying and gathering user activity data (using keyloggers, for instance), including login details and other sensitive credentials and information).
Some crimeware, such as Trojans, can grant hackers remote access to a user’s device, allowing them to install additional threats, while other types like Ransomware can lockout systems entirely (businesses are often targeted, with perpetrators demanding payments for decryption keys).
Most Common Types of Crimeware
While the term crimeware (as we touched on above) is defined as any piece of cybercrime-purposed technology, the most common types of crimeware include the following:
- Oprogramowanie szpiegujące: A malicious software or code, spyware secretly collects information from a user’s activity (such as passwords, financial details and browsing history) and then transmits it to the attacker, with some types capable of taking over webcam video and audio
- Keyloggers: A form of spyware, which can be either software or hardware-based, keyloggers stealthily record a user’s keystrokes (their keyboard activity) in order to gather and steal personal and financial information, including login credentials and credit card details
- Adware: Crimeware-based adware is software that busies your screen with unwanted advertisements like banners and pop-ups; adware is often unknowingly installed (by disguising itself as legitimate software or piggybacking on trusted apps) and can display fraudulent ads containing links to spoof websites and other malicious content
- Ransomware: This infamous crimeware has affected many of the world’s titans of industry; ransomware can encrypt system data and critical assets or even impose complete device lockouts, with attackers demanding payouts (usually in cryptocurrency) in return for decryption keys to restore lost systems and essential files
- Trojans: This notorious crimeware (named after the mythological wooden horse) disguises itself as legitimate software to gain system access, and once installed, can execute various illicit tasks; RATs (remote access trojans) provide backdoors for hackers, which can lead to remote control of the victim’s device and the ability to carry out activities like stealing sensitive data and installing additional malware for further exploitation
- Rootkits: Similar to trojans (above), this stealthy piece of crimeware can grant hackers remote access to a compromised device so they can perform various cybercrime activities; rootkits mask their presence by modifying a device’s operating system, which can make them incredibly difficult to both detect and remove
- Packet Sniffers: Also known as packet or network analyzers, packet sniffers enable hackers to monitor network traffic, inspecting data streams between computers on local and wider networks; this is why connections over unsecured public WiFi should be avoided due to the higher risks of data interception
- Wirusy: Usually laced into seemingly benign files (like email attachments), viruses replicate by modifying and inserting malicious code into other programs, documents and files on a system, which can lead to user activity monitoring, sensitive data theft and data corruption
- Worms: While viruses typically spread from one device to another following user interaction, worms are standalone, self-replicating malicious programs that can quickly spread across networks and the internet; just like viruses, they can also snoop on user activity and steal critical data
How to Protect Your Device from Crimeware
With countless forms of evolving crimeware (involving phishing and social engineering scams) being distributed every day, AntiVirus protection and personal vigilance have become absolutely vital components of cyber security.
And so, with a prevention-based approach in mind, let’s explore the best methods and practises for safeguarding your devices and sensitive data from crimeware:
- Regular Data Backups: The mantra “backup, backup, backup” exists among cyber security experts for good reason, so be sure to make regular backups of your important data so you’ll be better prepared to recover from threats like the infamous ransomware
- Avoid Dubious Downloads: Crimeware often infects devices via malware-laced downloads from phishing emails and chats (impersonating trusted firms and individuals), along with fake websites/third-party app stores offering freebies like pirated games and add-ons; cutting edge tools like Total WebShield can detect and block malicious content, helping you to steer clear of dangerous websites and downloads
- Regular Software Updates: Some types of crimeware target specific vulnerabilities in software yet to be patched by their developers, so ensure that you install the latest security fixes for operating systems, apps and browsers
- Use Strong Passwords: In addition to creating strong, unique (never repeated) passwords for all your online accounts, activate MFA (multi-factor authentication) to create significant hurdles for hackers; time-saving tools like Hasło ogólne can securely create and store strong passwords for you, and provide one-click account logins
- Remain Vigilant: Don’t ignore any changes – however subtle – in your devices’ health and performance, as symptoms like reduced speed could be indicative of an infection draining your system’s power resources; be sure to also follow the cyber security headlines to learn about the very latest crimeware threats and how to avoid them
- Use Antivirus Protection: While vigilance is a powerful weapon in the fight against crimeware, no internet-connected device should ever be without a trusted cyber security app; the Award-Winning TotalAV can scan your system and downloads in real-time for crimeware, shielding your device against the very latest threats, including spyware and trojans, and even unknown (zero-day) threats using sophisticated cloud-based technology
Consider Using a VPN: To shield your connection while on the move – especially from nearby hackers trying to intercept data over unsecured public WiFi – you can use a Virtual Private Network (VPN); Total VPN is an online privacy tool which masks your IP address and traffic through an encrypted tunnel, enabling you to browse, work and stream anonymously
