Distinguishing between different forms of malicious software and their impacts.
Open your master Google Doc. Look at the two scenarios below. Identify the specific Social Engineering threat taking place in each image.
A person on a train is typing their banking PIN into their phone while the passenger behind them watches closely.
From: security@netfIix-billing.com
Payment Declined!
Update credit card details here
An email urging the user to click a link to update billing details due to a declined payment.
To distinguish between different forms of malicious software (Malware) and explain their specific impacts on a computer system.
An umbrella term for 'Malicious Software'. Any program written specifically to cause harm, steal data, or disrupt systems.
Never just write "they got a malware" in the exam.
Malware is the category. You must identify the specific type (Virus, Worm, Trojan, etc.) to get full marks.
Software that replicates and attaches itself to legitimate host files. It executes when the user opens the infected file.
It needs a host. Like a biological virus needs a human cell.
Standalone malware that self-replicates rapidly across a network. Its main impact is consuming bandwidth to slow or crash the system.
It does NOT need a host file or human interaction to spread.
Malware disguised as legitimate software (e.g., a free game). It tricks the user into installing it, then opens a backdoor for hackers.
Free_Minecraft.exe
...secretly installs a keylogger in the background.
Software that encrypts a user's data, making it unreadable. It demands a financial payment (ransom) for the decryption key.
FILES ENCRYPTED
Send 0.5 Bitcoin to unlock.
Software that secretly monitors and records user actions (like a Keylogger recording key presses) and transmits data to a third party.
In the exam, simply defining malware is not enough. You must understand the differences in how they spread and what their purpose is.
| Malware Type | How it Spreads | Primary Impact / Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Virus | Needs human interaction (opening an infected host file). | Corrupts, edits, or deletes data files. |
| Worm | Self-replicates automatically across a network. No host needed. | Consumes network bandwidth, causing severe slowdowns or crashes. |
| Trojan | Relies on Social Engineering (deception) so the user installs it willingly. | Creates a 'backdoor' for hackers to exploit the system later. |
Read the statement below. Write True or False on your Mini Whiteboard and hold it up in silence.
Malware_Matchup.html link shared in Google Classroom.In your Google Doc, answer the following 4-mark OCR exam question. Pay attention to the command words.
"A university has buildings in two sites that are 5 miles apart. The university wants to protect their data against threats when connected to the Internet."
Describe the threat malware can pose to the university's network and give a prevention method that the university can use. (3 Marks)
To finish the lesson, read the four statements below about Malware. Three are true, one is a 'Red Herring' (False).