Computer and software security has become increasingly important in recent years as cyber threats have

continued to evolve. Several high-profile data breaches and cyber attacks have demonstrated the
potential for harm when systems are not properly secured (Smith, 2018). This has led to greater interest
from both industry and academia in identifying vulnerabilities and developing more robust security
protocols and software.

A major threat that has emerged is advanced malware that can evade traditional signature-based
detection. Sophisticated malware such as rootkits and botnets now use various obfuscation techniques,
making analysis and mitigation more difficult (Sgandurra et al., 2016). Effective behavioral malware
detection through machine learning and artificial intelligence is an active research domain to address
this issue.

Another rising threat is ransomware, which encrypts victim data until a ransom is paid. Ransomware
attacks have impacted healthcare organizations, city governments, and businesses of all sizes (Kharraz et
al., 2015). Developing methods to stop execution of ransomware code and recover encrypted data
without paying ransom is an important countermeasure being explored.

On the defensive side, risk management frameworks tailored to cloud environments are critical to
identify and mitigate risks related to data breaches, insecure interfaces, and denial of service attacks
(Singh & Chatterjee, 2017). Additionally, organizations should implement user awareness training to
educate employees on modern social engineering tactics like phishing, which remain prevalent attack
vectors.

In summary, defending against modern cyber threats requires addressing risks presented by evasive
malware, ransomware attacks, cloud vulnerabilities, and social engineering. A multilayered security
approach is needed, coupling technological protection and detection with risk management programs,
user education, and effective incident response. Ongoing research in these areas aims to enhance
computer and software security amidst a rapidly evolving threat landscape.

References:

Kharraz, A., Robertson, W., Balzarotti, D., Bilge, L., & Kirda, E. (2015). Cutting the gordian knot: A look
under the hood of ransomware attacks. In International Conference on Detection of Intrusions and
Malware, and Vulnerability Assessment (pp. 3-24). Springer, Cham.

Sgandurra, D., Muñoz-González, L., Mohsen, R., & Lupu, E.C. (2016). Automated Dynamic Analysis of
Ransomware: Benefits, Limitations and use for Detection. arXiv preprint arXiv:1609.03020.
Singh, K.J., & Chatterjee, K. (2017). Cloud security issues and challenges: A survey. Journal of Network
and Computer Applications, 79, 88-115.

Smith, S.W. (2018). Data breaches, phishing, or malware? Legal developments in cybercrime. Journal of
Digital Forensics, Security and Law, 13(1), 51-71.