Global malware types detected most frequently 2020-2021

Published by
Ani Petrosyan,
Dec 10, 2024
Between October 2020 and September 2021, Backdoor was the most common type of malware attack worldwide. Cyber attacks of this group amounted to 37 percent of all detected malware attacks in the measured period. Downloader ranked second, with 17 percent, while Worm followed with 16 percent among all malware attacks reported.

Most commonly encountered types of malware attacks worldwide from October 2020 to September 2021

CharacteristicShare of encounters
Backdoor 37%
Downloader 17%
Worm 16%
C2 9%
Spyware/Keylogger 6%
Ransomware 6%
Expoit Kit 3%
Click fraud 3%
Botnet Activity 1%
Spam 1%
Showing entries 1 to 10 (10 entries in total)
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Share of encounters37%37%17%17%16%16%9%9%6%6%6%6%3%3%3%3%1%1%1%1%BackdoorDownloaderWormC2Spyware/KeyloggerRansomwareExpoit KitClick fraudBotnet ActivitySpam
0%2.5%5%7.5%10%12.5%15%17.5%20%22.5%25%27.5%30%32.5%35%37.5%40%42.5%

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Release date

March 2022

Region

Worldwide

Survey time period

October 2020 to September 2021

Number of respondents

1,022 respondents

Special properties

wider industry metrics may vary

Supplementary notes

"Adware" and any other poorly-defined events excluded. "Banker", "Rootkit", and "Password dumper" are excluded too due to insignificant share of attacks. Numbers do not add up to 100 because types of attacks with insignificant share were excluded.

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