A new threat dubbed Shamoon has been identified that steals sensitive data, then wipes the target computer and effectively renders it useless. Shamoon--along with , , , --represents a new era of malware that is designed with specific goals in mind, and programmed to fly under the radar and evade detection in most cases.

In the early 90s the primary goal of malware developers seemed to be notoriety. The objective was to wreak as much havoc as possible in order to get attention and make the malware a household name. There were attacks like CodeRed, Nimda, or the attack that managed to bring much of the Internet around the world to its knees in under an hour.

Eventually, malware evolved into big business and the focus shifted. Cyber criminals can capture sensitive information like usernames, passwords, or banking and credit card information from compromised machines. Tens of thousands of surreptitiously controlled PCs can form a botnet, which malware developers can use as a platform for distributing spam, phishing attacks, or other malware. Malware became a real threat instead of a mere nuisance.

Thankfully, most malware exploits known vulnerabilities for which patches already exist. Defending against the average malware threat is as simple as keeping your PCs and mobile devices up to date, and employing cross-device security tools that can identify and block malware threats on all of your platforms.

New threats like Shamoon are another story, though. Stuxnet, Duqu, Flame, and even Gauss are believed to be sophisticated, state-sponsored malware developed for the purpose of cyber espionage against specific targets. Shamoonthe latest of the new breed of malwareis thought to be a copycat attack using some of the same techniques for stealthy, targeted attacks, but without the international spying aspect.