Take active steps to prevent malware from infiltrating your system! (Photo credit: Michael Geiger)
Malware can be described as any software that is doing something bad to your computer. Malware could do something annoying such as cause pop-up ads, something dangerous like collecting keystrokes as you type, or something discreet like force your computer to become part of a “botnet” without you even knowing!
One type of malware is called “crypto-malware,” which encrypts the data on your device, rendering it inaccessible to you. Another example of malware is called “ransomware,” which causes your data to be locked up until you pay a ransom to the hackers that installed the malware. Other types of malware include “Trojan horses,” “Worms,” and many types of viruses.
To help protect your systems against malware, there are several important things you can do:
Keep your operating system, web browser, and other applications up to date.
Use virus protection software and routinely scan for malware.
Use a firewall and avoid visiting suspicious websites.
Avoid opening emails and attachments from unknown recipients.
These are just a few steps anyone can take to help prevent malware from slowing down your system or leaking out critical personal data to attackers. Remember that it only takes one mistake for a hacker to gain access to your hardware/data. Stay informed, and stay vigilant!