If you think ransomware attacks are the deadliest of cyberattacks, think again. While extremely devastating, you can at least retrieve your encrypted files after ransomware negotiations in many cases.
Unfortunately, this is not the case with a vicious malware known as wiper, whose sole purpose is not to steal money but rather to cause destruction and damage.
The wiper is not your typical malware. Like a hurricane, this malware wipes away everything that comes in its path. The sole purpose of this malware is to cause defacement and destruction for the victims.
While it can end up causing substantial financial losses for the affected parties, its primary goal is not to steal money or sell information to cybercriminals but rather the destruction itself.
But why does this malware gravitate towards destruction? Although attackers can have many reasons for their actions, they often seem to be either trying to send a political or social message to another group of hackers or simply attempting to cover up their tracks after the data exfiltration occurs by another malware in your device.
How Does the Wiper Attack?
Threat actors may use various techniques to detonate the wiper malware. The three common ones they employ include targeting files or data, system and data backups, and system boot of an operating system.
Out of all three techniques, file destruction takes the longest to complete. So to avoid wasting precious time, in most cases, the wiper targets the files for essential system recovery tools first to make sure there’s no option for recovery left.
Tips to Protect Against the Wiper Malware
Do you want to avoid becoming the next victim of the wiper malware? Here are a few tips to help you stay protected from such attacks.
- Update Your Anti-Virus Protection
Malware threats are ever-evolving and changing by the day. Therefore, your malware and security protection software must always be up-to-date.
- Perform Regular Backups
A strong disaster recovery plan can minimize both data loss and downtime. By setting up regular backups, you can recover your data even after a major wiper attack or any malware attack for that matter.
- Patch Operating System and Applications
Contrary to popular belief, most operating system updates are security-related and not just related to features. These patches provide the required protection against identified vulnerabilities since an OS or application release.
Remember: while malware occurrences are highly prevalent, no strain of malware is impossible to mitigate, especially if you stay prepared and follow the tips mentioned above. So, next time you encounter malware, don’t be clueless. Instead, be ready to deal with it quickly.
