Web scripting viruses pose a severe cyberthreat, invading devices to steal personal data and disable functionality. This guide covers everything you need to know about identifying these attacks and protecting yourself through preventative measures.
What Are Web Scripting Viruses and How Do They Infect Devices?
Web scripting viruses are a type of malware specially designed to penetrate web browser security. Once inside the browser system, they inject malicious code to:
- Steal login credentials, financial information, and other sensitive data
- Take control of the device’s functionality
- Use the compromised device for criminal hacking schemes
These viruses copy their own code and distribute themselves to other programs and connected devices. Even a single infected webpage can trigger a widespread attack.
| Method of Infection | Description | Percentage of Cyberattacks |
|---|---|---|
| Infected Websites and Ads | Hackers inject viruses into legitimate sites and ads which then transfer to visitors | 38% involve compromised sites |
| Email Phishing Links | Deceptive emails with infected downloads or links are sent to recipients who unwittingly enable the virus by clicking | 30% initiated through phishing |
| Social Media Networks | Links and files shared on social platforms rapidly spread viruses to connected users | Social media networks see 285% more threats than other sites |
Infected websites and ads account for over a third of attacks, with social networks also posing an exceptionally high risk. Once on a system, these attacks can navigate beyond the browser itself to infect any program vulnerable to remote code execution.
Identifying Symptoms of an Infection
Catching an infection early allows for quicker virus removal before extensive harm occurs. Be on the lookout for these common infection symptoms:
- Browser Homepage Changes: If your homepage suddenly redirects without any browser updates being performed, it may indicate an attack.
- New Tabs Open Unwanted Sites: Pop-up tabs routing to strange sites usually means an infection.
- Computer Performance Issues: Slow speeds, crashes, or unexpected shutdowns signal malware.
- Programs Acting Strangely: Infections often break features in other apps too. Pay attention to any unusual behavior.
- Activity on Accounts You Don‘t Recognize: Fraudulent posts, messages, or transactions are signs of data or credential theft.
Still, some symptoms depend on virus type:
| Virus Type | Visible Symptoms? |
|---|---|
| Persistent | Usually immediately obvious through severe performance impact, data theft notifications, etc. |
| Non-Persistent | Designed to operate subtly in background so may not have clear symptoms initially |
Non-persistent infections, active for prolonged periods in the background, demonstrate why routine virus scans are essential even without noticeable device disruption.
Why Hackers Unleash These Attacks
These schemes provide ways for hackers to profit off compromised data in multiple illegal ways:
- Selling Data: Personal info is sold on dark web marketplaces. Bank logins can fetch over $1,000 each.
- Ransomware: Access to devices is restricted until excessive unlock fees are paid, which can exceed $5,000 for organizations.
- Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS): In a DDoS attack, web scripting viruses simultaneously harness infected devices to overload and crash networks with a flood of traffic. Major outages can cost millions in economic damages.
In 2020 alone, ransomware attacks increased by 435% according to cybersecurity researchers Trend Micro. As the payoff potential expands, hackers dedicate more resources to attack innovation.
Protecting Yourself from Infection
With attacks growing in scale and sophistication, prioritizing prevention is key to security:
Install Antivirus Software
Robust antivirus software like Bitdefender offers essential, multilayered protection including:
- Real-time blocking of web scripting virus entry points
- Ongoing monitoring that detects existing infections
- Browser add-ons that provide additional security while web browsing
- Encryption of sensitive files which renders stolen data useless
- Extra protections focused specifically on financial accounts
Bitdefender earns top ratings across independent testing labs for maximum dependable defense.
Perform Regular System Scans
Alongside antivirus real-time monitoring, running complete system scans on a weekly basis identifies any lingering threats that slipped past initial detection. Set reminder notifications to maintain consistency.
Keep All Software Fully Updated
Vendors continuously release security patches to cover newly discovered exploitation vulnerabilities in programs. Enabling automatic updates closes these gaps before hackers can capitalize on them. Updates not only maintain software stability but more crucially block cyber intrusion methods.
Exercise Caution with Links and Downloads
Think critically about emails and messaging content before interacting. Warning signs of phishing attempts include:
- Suspicious sender addresses
- Alarming subject lines demanding immediate action
- Generic greetings like “Dear user” without using your name
- Mismatched links that don’t match where they claim to route
- Attachments from unknown sources or in strange formats
Err on the side of caution by ignoring questionable messages. Confirm logos, addresses, contact information and other details if you suspect legitimacy but remain unsure.
Steps to Remove an Existing Infection
If your device exhibits infection symptoms, take action quickly to limit damage:
- Run Antivirus Scans
Leverage built-in remediation tools in antivirus suites to automatically quarantine and remove detected infections. Schedule recurring scans afterwards to uncover any residual threats.
- ResetBrowser to Default Settings
Browser resets revert settings like your homepage back to their original state while clearing malicious customizations. Reinstall the browser if issues persist.
- Notify Institutions of Any Unauthorized Activity
Alert banking providers, social platforms and any other accounts of fraudulent posts or charges. Request assistance changing credentials to block attacker access.
- Change Passwords
Where possible, change passwords to revoke access by attackers utilizing stolen passwords from the infected device.
- Contact Technical Support
If antivirus scans and password changes fail to restore normal device functioning, contact manufacturer support for further infection investigation assistance. Provide any relevant device error details.
With infections growing ever stealthier, an ounce of prevention truly outweighs a pound of cure. Implementing the safety measures above makes it exponentially harder for hackers to succeed in launching web scripting attacks against your device. Stay vigilant in protecting yourself.
