Quick Reference: Malware Types at a Glance

Malware Types at a Glance

#	Malware Type	Primary Goal	Self-Replicates?	Risk Level	Key Trait
1	Computer Virus	Damage / Replicate	✅ Host-attached	🟠 High	Attaches to host files
2	Computer Worm	Mass Propagation	✅ Standalone	🔴 Critical	Network self-propagation
3	Trojan Horse	Backdoor / Theft	❌ No	🟠 High	Social engineering
4	Spyware	Surveillance	❌ No	🟠 High	Covert data collection
5	Adware	Ad Revenue	❌ No	🟡 Medium	Browser hijacking
6	Ransomware	Extortion	⚠️ Some variants	🔴 Critical	Encryption + double extortion
7	Rootkit	Persistence	❌ No	🔴 Critical	Kernel-level hiding
8	Keylogger	Credential Theft	❌ No	🟠 High	Keystroke capture
9	Backdoor	Persistent Access	❌ No	🔴 Critical	Remote access / C2
10	Botnet / Bot	Coordinated Attacks	✅ Yes	🔴 Critical	C2-controlled army
11	APT Malware	Espionage	❌ No	🔴 Critical	Nation-state, custom
12	Fileless Malware	Evasion / Access	❌ No	🔴 Critical	Memory-only, LOLBins
13	Cryptominer	Revenue	⚠️ Some variants	🟡 Medium	Resource hijacking
14	Wiper Malware	Destruction	❌ No	🔴 Critical	No recovery possible
15	Mobile Malware	Data Theft	⚠️ Some variants	🟠 High	Android/iOS specific
16	Web Shell	Server Control	❌ No	🟠 High	Browser-based C2
17	AI-Powered Malware	Adaptive Attack	🔬 Hypothetical	🔴 Critical	ML-driven adaptation
18	Post-Quantum Malware	Crypto Breaking	🔬 Hypothetical	🟠 High	HNDL + Shor’s algorithm
19	UEFI / Firmware	Deep Persistence	❌ No	🔴 Critical	Hardware-level
20	Supply-Chain	Mass Infection	❌ No	🔴 Critical	Trusted vendor compromise
21	OT/ICS Malware	Physical Damage	⚠️ Some variants	🔴 Critical	Physical consequences
22	Polymorphic / Metamorphic	Detection Evasion	✅ Yes	🟠 High	Code mutation

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Risk Level Legend

Badge	Meaning
🔴 Critical	Nation-state grade; widespread impact; physical/irreversible damage
🟠 High	Significant damage; data theft; persistence; requires advanced defence
🟡 Medium	Nuisance; revenue-focused; lower direct damage
🔬 Hypothetical	Theoretical / emerging; not widely observed in wild

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Self-Replication Key

Symbol	Meaning
✅ Yes	Autonomous or host-attached replication
❌ No	No self-replication (requires delivery)
⚠️ Some variants	Some families have worm-like components
🔬 Hypothetical	Theoretical capability

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Primary Goal Categories

Category	Malware Types
Destruction	Wiper, OT/ICS, some Ransomware
Extortion	Ransomware (double extortion)
Espionage	APT, Spyware, Keylogger, Mobile Spyware
Financial Crime	Banking Trojan, Ransomware, Cryptominer, Adware, Botnet
Persistence/Access	Rootkit, Backdoor, UEFI/Firmware, Web Shell, Botnet
Propagation	Virus, Worm, Botnet, Polymorphic
Evasion	Fileless, Polymorphic/Metamorphic, Rootkit, AI-Powered
Surveillance	Spyware, Keylogger, Mobile Spyware
Resource Theft	Cryptominer, Botnet (proxy), Adware

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Quick Defence Priorities by Risk

Risk	Immediate Actions
🔴 Critical	Patch immediately, isolate, EDR, offline backups, IR plan
🟠 High	Patch within 72h, EDR, network segmentation, MFA
🟡 Medium	Patch cycle, AV, user awareness, monitoring
🔬 Hypothetical	Track research, prepare migration (PQC), threat model

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Quick Links

Category	Link
Classic	Virus · Worm · Trojan · Spyware · Adware · Ransomware · Rootkit · Keylogger · Backdoor
Advanced	Botnet · APT · Fileless · Cryptominer · Wiper
Mobile/Web	Mobile · Web Shell
Emerging	AI-Powered · Post-Quantum · UEFI · Supply-Chain · OT/ICS · Polymorphic
Defence	Economy · ATT&CK · Universal Defence

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