Malware Types
How It Spreads
Signs & Symptoms
Protection & Recovery
Famous Attacks/Examples
100

A program that attaches itself to files and spreads when the files are shared.

What is a Virus? 

100

Clicking this in a suspicious email is a common way to accidentally download malware.

What is a malicious link?

100

Your computer suddenly becomes very slow or programs take ages to open.

What is slow performance (possible sign of malware)?


100

Software you install to scan for and remove malware.

What is antivirus (or antimalware)?

100

This 2017 ransomware attack affected hospitals and businesses worldwide.

What is WannaCry?

200

Software that pretends to be useful but hides harmful code and can steal info.

What is a trojan?

200

Malware can come bundled with free programs downloaded from untrusted websites; these are called this.

What is bundled software (or untrusted downloads)?

200

You see pop-up ads constantly even when your browser is closed.

What is adware?

200

Keeping your OS and apps updated helps protect against malware that uses holes in old software.

What is installing updates / patching?

200

An early worm named after its creator that caused widespread disruption in 1988.

What is the Morris Worm?

300

This malware makes copies of itself and spreads across networks without needing a host file.

What is a worm?

300

When malware jumps between computers on the same network without human help.

What is a worm spread(or network propagation)?

300

Files won’t open and have strange extensions; a message demands payment.

What is ransomware?

300

A copy of your files kept in a safe place to restore from after an attack.

What is a backup?

300

A famous virus spread by email in 2000 that used the subject “ILOVEYOU.”

What is the ILOVEYOU virus?

400

This type locks or encrypts your files and demands payment to unlock them.

What is ransomware?

400

An attacker tricks you into giving info by pretending to be someone trusted in an email.

What is phishing?

400

Contacts get messages you didn’t send, or your account shows unfamiliar activity.

What is account hacking (or possible sign of spyware/Trojans)?

400

The safest immediate action if a suspicious email asks for your password.

What is don’t click, verify sender, and report it?

400

This type of attack encrypts files and often asks for payment in Bitcoin.

What is ransomware?

500

Software that secretly records your activity (like keystrokes) to capture passwords.

What is spyware (or a keylogger)?

500

Malware delivered by hiding inside a seemingly normal USB drive or file.

What is malicious removable media (or infected USB /drive-by download)?

500

Network traffic spikes or many devices slow down at once — something is spreading.

What is network infection / worm outbreak?

500

A step-by-step plan for restoring systems after a major malware event.

What is a disaster recovery plan?

500

A trojan commonly used to steal online banking information in the 2010s.

What is a trojan?