The Next Generation Of Antivirus Software
Malware and corruption viruses are constantly one-upping our antivirus protection. What does the future hold for malware evolution?
In 1982, Elk Cloner became the first known computer virus released into the wild. Targeting the floppy discs of Apple II computers, this assembly language virus was written by a 15-year old for sheer devilment. And ever since, precocious programmers have created viruses intended to annoy, damage and destroy.
Evolution of Malware
The stakes have undoubtedly risen since Elk Cloner made its debut. There is an unprecedented degree of malevolence evident in malware like Flame. In response, the cybersecurity market continues to grow rapidly and is expected to be worth $120 billion this year alone.
Data thefts and leaks may steal the headlines, but the internet’s endlessly mutating viruses can cause catastrophic damage to affected individuals and businesses.While modern antivirus packages are becoming increasingly adept at weeding out known malware, the viruses themselves are evolving into polymorphic binaries capable of disguising themselves to avoid identification. With hackers enjoying anti hero status in some quarters, and plenty of Deep Web miscreants advertising their services to the highest bidder, there are concerns about how our online activities may be affected in future. As we become ever more reliant on the internet, a new generation of antivirus software is clearly required.
The Battle Against Corruption
A fundamental problem with existing software is its reactive nature. Antivirus packages look for known code fragments or file names, rendering them ineffective against emerging threats until every user device’s database has been patched. By contrast, tomorrow’s antivirus packages are likely to use machine learning algorithms to analyze patterns of network behavior and predict from where threats may be coming. Clearly, it would be preferable to eradicate malware at its source, rather than reacting after it’s attacked.
One example of this predictive technology can be seen in Carbon Black’s Streaming Prevention package, which made its debut last month. It works by preemptively blocking attacks from compromised browsers or operating system tools. These attacks have proved particularly hard to counteract compared to viruses transmitted via email (and easily blocked by ISP servers), or malware embedded into compromised websites (which can be detected by web browsers or antivirus software).
Newcomer: IoT Threats
One threat already present in our homes and workplaces involves the army of newly sentient appliances capable of distributing information across our internet connections. Internet of Things devices have recently been corralled into massive DDoS attacks, and there is likely to be a far greater focus on protecting not just the devices themselves but our domestic servers and routers. By creating an impregnable firewall between a home hub and the outside world, viruses have no way of targeting vulnerabilities in IoT-enabled scales or fridges. Commercial clients may also become more reliant on firewalls and servers, as a first line of defense against attacks on end-user devices.
Moving Forward
The term ‘antivirus’ may become increasingly obsolete, as software evolves into real-time network monitoring rather than responsive file deletion. Cloud intelligence and machine learning can help to blacklist compromised servers and prevent distribution from occurring. There is also growing interest in remedial software that logs endpoints in user activity, with the capability to restore settings and files irrespective of any havoc subsequently wrecked by a virus. While prevention is always better than cure, such safety nets will remain invaluable. What precautions are you taking to protect yourself, your home and your business?