Security Advisory - July 2026 Frontier AI Security and Hardening Update

What is Malware?

Malware, a portmanteau of ‘malicious’ and ‘software,’ is any software that malicious actors use to harm or gain unauthorized access to networks, computer systems, or devices. Groups may develop malware to disrupt businesses, cause damage to their systems, or exploit them to steal data for financial gain.

The Check Point Cyber Security Report for 2026 suggests that cyberattacks have increased 70% YoY since 2023, and understanding the most common types of malware allows businesses to take proactive steps to secure their systems.

Common Types of Malware

Malware is an incredibly broad category, actually spanning a variety of attack vectors and including a range of motives behind the attacks. Some forms of malware are quiet killers, breaking into a system and existing in the shadows. Others announce themselves, shutting down company systems and demanding payment.

Below are the most common types of malware you should be aware of.

Ransomware

Ransomware encrypts critical business assets and demands a payment for the decryption keys. There was a 53% increase in victim data posted to ransomware sites in 2025, demonstrating how prevalent this vector still is. While ransomware can be developed and launched as an independent malicious campaign, the rise of ransomware-as-a-service models is making this an accessible vector for cybercriminals.

Wipers

Wipers are destructive payloads that are created specifically to destroy or corrupt enterprise data systems. As this isn’t a profitable attack vector for malicious groups, wipers are mainly used in state-sponsored espionage or as a part of cyberterrorism.

Infostealers

Infostealers are pieces of software that aim to extract credentials, MFA tokens, or other sensitive data from devices. They mainly lay the foundations for further attacks by giving malicious groups the information they need to log into a privileged account and gain access.

Spyware and Keyloggers

Spyware and keyloggers are both monitoring tools that log information while a user interacts with their device. Spyware may log information such as the internet pages someone navigates to and what their login credentials are. A keylogger captures every keystroke that a person makes on a device, often gathering passwords and usernames over a long period of time.

Adware

Once on a device, adware continually delivers unwanted advertising payloads via pop-ups or browser redirects. These reduce system performance, may cause a user to navigate to a malicious website, and make a device extremely difficult to use.

Malvertising and Scareware

Malvertising is where groups embed malicious code into legitimate advertising networks. When a user navigates to the webpage of one of these ads, this code will execute, potentially downloading more damaging software onto a device.

Scareware is where popups appear on a device or browser that claim a virus is active on a computer (or similar), attempting to trick the user into taking action and clicking a malicious link.

Cryptomining Malware

Cryptomining malware is where a device is hijacked and used for its computing resources. Malicious groups will use the compute power of infected devices to mine cryptocurrency, making them completely unresponsive.

Viruses

Viruses are any self-replicating malicious payloads that attach to legitimate files and then execute when clicked on. Once active, they corrupt the computer system, spreading throughout a device and potentially its connected network.

Worms

Worms are a form of virus that self-replicate without the need for a human to click on the file they’re attached to in order to begin duplicating. They’re more damaging than viruses due to this feature and are able to expand to consume large-scale networks quickly.

Trojans

Trojans are malicious payloads that disguise themselves as legitimate applications or software. Once a user downloads these seemingly normal packages and installs them, the trojan then enters the system and typically tries to create a remote access pathway to deliver more malware.

Botnet Malware

A botnet is a huge network of compromised devices that a malicious group controls and directs at certain businesses. For example, Direct Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks use botnets to overwhelm servers. Botnet malware is the infectious payload that corrupts a device, adding it to the botnet with remote access capabilities.

IoT Malware

Internet of Things (IoT) malware is an extension of botnet malware but built to specifically target IoT devices, like security cameras, sensors, or other devices with an internet connection. As IoT devices typically have poor security controls, they’re an easy target to add to bot networks.

Rootkits

Rootkits are a form of malware that is extremely difficult to detect, hiding and operating at a low level within a device. Often, they hide at a deep OS level, remaining practically invisible while providing a route for unauthorized access for malicious actors.

Fileless Malware

Fileless malware works within a computer’s memory instead of on its hard drive. By operating in this environment, it’s able to execute malicious actions like encrypting files or exfiltrating data without alerting typical cybersecurity systems. They use script-based attacks, like running in PowerShell, to fly under the radar.

Mobile Malware

Mobile malware is any malware that operates on a mobile device.

POS Malware

Point-of-sale malware is software that infects payment terminals and cash registers to steal financial information during routine payments. They harvest data before it is encrypted, capturing it before typical financial data protection standards are able to activate.

Logic Bombs

Logic bombs are dormant pieces of malicious code that activate and cause damage once certain conditions are met. For example, a payload might trigger on a certain date or if a specific file is accessed.

AI-Powered and Polymorphic Malware

Polymorphic malware is any malware that continuously mutates its code signatures to avoid detection. These are becoming much more common due to the availability of AI tools, as AI allows for rapid and unexpected mutation at scale.

Hybrid Threats

Hybrid threats are where malicious groups employ several different vectors at once to break through company defenses. For example, a group may use a Trojan to access a business and deliver a worm, which then distributes ransomware across a computer network. Malware threats rarely operate in isolation, as additional layers make them harder to detect and prevent.

How to Defend Against Malware Attacks

After understanding just how broad malware attacks as a category can be, it can be challenging to know how to prepare your business’s cybersecurity defense strategy. Most of the time, there isn’t one single action or preventative measure that a company can take to keep itself safe. Instead, it’s a combination of multiple systems, protocols, and initiatives that all combine to improve cybersecurity.

Below is a range of strategies that form part of an effective, holistic strategy to defend against malware attacks:

• Identify Primary Attack Vectors: Knowing which vectors are more commonly used to deliver malware lets a business take steps to defend those channels. For example, 82% of attacks are delivered via email, so having email and endpoint detection is an effective strategy to reduce the likelihood of successful malware delivery.

• Utilize AI-driven Endpoint Protection: AI-enabled endpoint detection and response tools can use behavioral analysis to detect anomalies early, letting you shift from reactive to proactive cybersecurity defense.

• Enhance Mobile Security: Mobile devices are a common entry point for cyberthreats. Deploying dedicated Mobile Threat Defense (MTD) can secure vulnerable devices and help protect BYOD fleets against mobile payloads.

• Implement Zero Trust Architecture and Access Control: Zero Trust and extensive access control will help to limit any horizontal movement through your system if a malicious actor does gain access to an account. Coupling this with network segmentation can greatly reduce the scope of access any malicious actor may have.

• Scan for Shadow IT and Offer Education: Routinely scanning all connected devices and applications can help pinpoint any shadow IT in your company. Educate your users on why shadow IT is prohibited and offer alternative channels for them to submit requests for new software.

• Deploy Advanced Email Protection: Your business can use network sandboxing to analyze malicious payloads and build up a repertoire of new signatures to prevent them. Where possible, use in-browser isolation to block any automated downloads and prevent unauthorized email-based downloads.

• Establish Vulnerability Management Protocols: Create a layered vulnerability management system to eliminate known vectors in third-party software. Use real-time intelligence tools to alert your team about emerging threats and give them as much time as possible to patch out known vulnerabilities.

Build a Better Security Posture with Check Point Workspace Security

Endpoints are routinely a primary target for numerous forms of malware, with everything from ransomware and infostealers to polymorphic threats, malicious groups use company devices as initial access points. Traditional endpoint security often fails to protect against these threats, as they mutate in real time and operate in unexpected ways.

Check Point Endpoint Security offers a unified, prevention-first approach to endpoint security. By combining XDR, EDR, and EPP capabilities into a single platform, Workspace Security endpoint gives you full control and visibility across your cybersecurity environment. You can identify threats before they execute, detect malicious behavior in real time, and respond to any breaches with effective preventive measures.

Powered by ThreatCloud AI, Check Point Endpoint Security offers advanced protection against zero-day malware, credential theft, ransomware, and an extensive range of other attack techniques. It automates up to 90% of attack detection, investigation, and remediation, reducing manual burden while improving security. With full-scale data protection, risk reduction, and holistic defenses, Check Point Endpoint Security can help secure your environment from malware threats.