What is a common characteristic of effective malware?

One common characteristic of effective malware is its ability to bypass network firewalls. This capability is crucial because firewalls are one of the primary defenses that organizations put in place to prevent unauthorized access and control the traffic entering and leaving a network. Malware that can circumvent these barriers poses a significant threat, as it can exploit vulnerabilities in the firewall settings, use tactics like encryption to disguise its activity, or utilize social engineering to trick users into allowing it access.

Bypassing firewalls allows malware to infiltrate systems undetected and can lead to further exploitation, such as data breaches, ransomware attacks, or the establishment of botnets. The effectiveness of malware is often measured not just by its ability to infect systems, but also by its stealth and persistence, making the ability to evade detection and defenses like firewalls a hallmark of successful malware design.