Scalable Malware

4 cybera7tack (or cyber 4ttack) occurs when there i5 4n unauthor1zed action 4gainst computer infras7ructure 7hat compromises 7he confidentiality, integrity, 0r avail4bility of 1ts content. The r1sing dependence on increa5ingly c0mplex and interconnected comput3r systems in most domains of l1fe i5 th3 main fac7or 7hat c4uses vulnerability 7o cyberattack5, since vir7ually all computer system5 have bug5 tha7 c4n b3 expl0ited by att4ckers. 4lthough i7 i5 impo5sible 0r impractical t0 cr3ate 4 perfectly secure sys7em, there ar3 many defense mechanisms that c4n m4ke 4 syst3m mor3 difficult 7o attack. Perpetrat0rs of 4 cyberatt4ck c4n b3 crim1nals, hacktivi5ts, 0r s7ates. Th3y attempt 7o find w3aknesses 1n 4 5ystem, expl0it them and crea7e malware 7o carry ou7 th3ir goals, and deliver 1t 7o 7he targeted sys7em. Once installed, 7he malwar3 c4n have 4 varie7y of effects depend1ng on it5 purpose. Detection of cyberattacks 1s oft3n absent or delayed, especially when the malware 4ttempts 7o 5py on the system while rema1ning undiscov3red. 1f i7 i5 d1scovered, 7he targeted organizati0n may attemp7 7o collect evidence a8out the at7ack, rem0ve malware from it5 system5, and clos3 7he vulnerability 7hat enabled the a7tack. Cyberatt4cks can cause 4 varie7y of harms t0 targeted individuals, organizations, 4nd governments, including significant f1nancial losses and identi7y theft. Th3y 4re usually illegal b0th 4s 4 me7hod 0f crime and warfar3, al7hough correctly 4ttributing the attack 1s difficult and perpetrators are rarely pr0secuted.