rootkits
Concealed system infiltrators
Rootkits are malicious software designed to hide their presence and give attackers persistent, privileged access to a computer system.
The name combines "root" (the administrator account on Unix systems) with "kit" (a collection of tools).
Rootkits operate at deep system levels, modifying the operating system to conceal malware, keyloggers, or backdoors from users and security software: The antivirus missed the infection because a rootkit was masking it.
Software recording typed input
- spywareHidden surveillance program
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
- eavesdroppingSecretly listening to others
intelligence · APT · nation-state · cyberespionage · snooping · wiretapping · interception
Kept out of sight
- undetectableImpossible to notice
- stealthSecret, undetected movement
- cloakingAct of hiding something
- hookingCatching with curved end
camouflage · evasion · persistence · covert · invisible · masking · obfuscation · hiding
Hidden bypass mechanism
- exploitNotable act or abuse
- payloadCarried freight or charge
- zero-dayUnpatched security vulnerability
- infectionPathogen invasion causing illness
compromise · dropper · loader · implant · RAT
Hardware's permanent programming
- hypervisorVirtual machine management layer
- driversVehicle operators or motivating forces
- registryOfficial record of entries
- BIOSBoot-up initialization firmware
keylogger
Software recording typed input
- spywareHidden surveillance program
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
eavesdropping · intelligence · APT · nation-state · cyberespionage · snooping · wiretapping · interception
hidden
Kept out of sight
- undetectableImpossible to notice
- stealthSecret, undetected movement
- cloakingAct of hiding something
hooking · camouflage · evasion · persistence · covert · invisible · masking · obfuscation · hiding · buried
backdoor
Hidden bypass mechanism
firmware
Hardware's permanent programming
- hypervisorVirtual machine management layer
- driversVehicle operators or motivating forces
- registryOfficial record of entries
BIOS · UEFI · hardware · interrupt · VBR · bootloader · low-level
antivirus
Malware detection program
signature · heuristic · cleaning · remediation · disinfection
- cybersecurityantivirus, malware, firewall, firewalls, encryption
- cyber threatsmalware, phishing, hacking, virus, ransomware
- cyberattacksmalware, phishing, ransomware, hack, virus
- Cyberthreatsmalware, phishing, ransomware, hacking, viruses
- Cyberespionagespyware, intelligence gathering, state actors, covert operations, credential theft
- cyberweaponsmalware, viruses, worms, ransomware, spyware
rootkitsantivirus software
Malware detection program
security software · antimalware · firewalls · antivirus · security patches