ROOTKIT

Some cyber threats are not easy to detect and remove. In fact, some are so sibylline that not even your cyber-protection software can detect them. If your computer suddenly runs very slow, if your RAM is always low, even with a single browser tab open, or if the Blue Screen of Death appears frequently, your PC may have been infected with an “invisible” threat. ", A rootkit.

What is a rootkit?

A rootkit is software used by hackers to take complete control over the target computer or network. Although sometimes it may be a single component of the software, it is more common for a rootkit to consist of a compendium of tools that allow the hacker remote access and administrator level access to the attacked computer. Although rootkits can be used for benign purposes (e.g. remote technical support), they are normally used for malicious purposes. They have a back door that allows hackers to make changes to the system.

Despite being around for a quarter of a century, in one form or another, the history of today's rootkits can be traced back to the mid-1990s, the onslaught of UNIX rootkits and stealth DOS viruses. . The first rootkits for Windows were discovered around the turn of the century, and among the most notable examples are Vanquish, which recorded the passwords of its victims, and FU, which ran in kernel mode and was used to modify the structure of the system more than merely to enter the.

Hackers can install rootkits on the target computer in many ways, but most of them include a phishing attack or some other form of social engineering. In this way, owners unwittingly download and install malicious software on their computers and hand over control of almost every aspect of the operating system to hackers. In most cases, rootkits attack applications that run in user mode, although some mainly attack components of the core operating system in kernel mode and even computer firmware (for example BIOS).

As with other legitimate software components, rootkits are often programmed to disable or completely remove any antimalware or virus software that may have been installed on the infected computer. This was a big problem in the past, when most antimalware programs were unable to detect, control and / or stop a rootkit attack. Cyber security solutions have evolved since then, so some of the best antivirus software today can detect and remove rootkits from your system successfully. 

What types of rootkits are there?

Different rootkits focus on different parts. As a rule of thumb, the closer to the center of your computer they are, the more damaging and harder to detect infections. While those that affect your computer's software are quite common and easy to handle, those that attack the drivers, memory, as well as the operating system are much more complicated.

 

The five most common types of rootkits are:

 

·       User Mode Rootkits

User mode rootkits are the furthest from the core of your computer and only affect the software on your PC. They are much easier to detect and remove than any other rootkit. Commonly called application rootkits, they replace the executable files of standard programs such as Word, Excel, Paint or Notepad. In this way, each time you activate an infected .exe file of the applications, you will allow hackers access to your computer, and while you can continue using the program in question as normal.

·       Kernel Mode Rootkits

Unlike application rootkits, kernel mode rootkits are among the most severe types of this threat, as they attack the very core of your operating system. Hackers use them not only to access files on your computer, but they can also change the way your operating system works by adding their own code. While these rootkits can seriously affect the performance of your system, they are still easier to identify and treat than some other types of rootkits whose effects go beyond the mere operating system.

·       Bootloader Rootkits

As the name implies, rootkits affect the Main Boot Record (MBR) and / or the Boot Volume Record (VBR) of the system. Although they have a direct impact on the system, these rootkits are attached to boot records rather than files, making them difficult to detect and remove. Also, if one of these rootkits injects code into the MBR, it can damage your entire computer. Fortunately, bootloader rootkits are doomed to extinction. With the release of Windows 8 and 10, most PCs already have the Secure Boot option, specially designed to protect against bootloader rootkits. However, computers still using the 32-bit or 64-bit versions of Windows 7 may still be at risk.

·       Memory Rootkits

Memory rootkits hide in your computer's RAM (Random Access Memory) and consume your computing resources to perpetrate various malicious processes in the background. This means that memory rootkits will inevitably affect the performance of your computer's RAM. Despite this, these rootkits are rarely seen as a major threat, mostly because they have a very short lifespan. Since they inhibit RAM and do not inject permanent code, memory rootkits disappear as soon as you restart your system.

·       Firmware Rootkits (Unalterable Logic Support)

Although very rare compared to the other types, firmware rootkits are a serious threat to your online security. Instead of attacking your operating system, these rootkits target your computer's firmware to install malware that even the best antimalware programs won't be able to detect. It attacks your hard drive. As they affect hardware, they allow hackers not only to monitor your online activity, but also to record your keystrokes.

 

How to remove a rootkit?

 

Various types of rootkits operate at higher privilege levels than most cybersecurity programs, and this may be the reason why they are difficult to detect. To scan your systems for rootkits, you need an advanced antimalware tool that has add-ons for rootkits. Fortunately, the best antivirus software has a built-in rootkit scanner and rootkit remover, allowing you to easily detect and remove these threats from the network.  

If you suspect that your system may be infected by a rootkit, you should look for more than one indicator of the infection. They typically include slower performance and low RAM, incorrect time and date in the lower right corner of your screen, as well as frequent appearances of the so-called "Blue Screen of Death." In addition to this, some or all of the functions of your antivirus may be automatically overridden at the first start of the software infected by the rootkit.

Although some rootkits can affect your hardware, they all originate from the installation of malicious software. Your best bet is to only use the best antivirus software that is prepared to offer real-time protection against major threats, including viruses, malware, and rootkits. Make sure to scan your system regularly and update virus definitions daily. To avoid bootloader rootkits, it is also recommended that you upgrade your current operating system to Windows 8 or higher.