The True Effect Of Malware On Our Economy
Malware, or software that has been created for malicious intentions, can infiltrate one or many computers, causing loss of privacy, information and productivity. This software is disseminated primarily through email attachments although it can also infect a computer simply by the user’s clicking of a link or icon. Malware can extract personal and private information and unscrupulous individuals can than use the information to make purchases or sell teh information on a black market as a form of identity theft. Individuals who are a bit more creative may also pay others to distribute malware, thus creating a multi-level infiltration. Because malware is a thriving and viable underground form of enterprise, it’s revenues are often laundered and filtered back into the white market economy, creating a grey area that remains costly for the individuals who are the victims of this crime.
The true effect of malware on our economy is difficult to determine, mainly because of the blurred lines between legal and illegal uses of this kind of software. Malware infiltration also often goes unnoticed for weeks, months or years before the actual threat is identified. In that time, a substantial amount of information could have been extracted that generates revenue for the black market. Not every piece of malware software is intended or designed to destroy an operating system. Several types of malware, keyloggers for example, can operate behind the scenes on a computer, without user awareness that private and potentially valuable information is being compromised.
A more obvious effect of malware on the economy is when it is intended to cause failure of the user’s operating system. This can be isolated to a single machine or to a complete mainframe and can lead to substantial financial losses due to time spent offline. In addition, costs associated with repair and replacement of the affected devices can decrease revenue and is responsible for millions of dollars of loss in operating expenses every year.