There are an ever growing number of threats to our computers online, and combatting them is a never ending battle. In this article, we will briefly explain the differences between Viruses, Malware, and Spyware, and what you can do to protect yourself from them.
What is a Virus?
A computer virus is a program designed to spread from computer to computer. Some of the most common ways they spread are though email attachments or by clicking on malicious advertisements on websites. Commonly viruses will corrupt and delete data from your computer, or hijack other programs to spread itself to other systems.
What is a Worm?
A worm is a specific type of Virus. They differ in that they do not require outside action to spread or activate. These types of viruses can spread more easily from machine to machine, and can be used in many different ways, including giving remote access of your computer to someone.
What is a Trojan?
A Trojan is a program used to hide a virus from your computer, making it harder to detect. Trojans are commonly encountered as free software that can be downloaded on the internet. This software may appear or advertise to do one thing, when in fact it is carrying out its malicious mission to infect its target.
What is Malware?
Malware is a general term for junk programs that by themselves don’t cause much of a problem, and can be fairly passive. They are commonly encountered as tool bars, shopping or coupon programs, and small programs that can be bundled in with legitimate software. The biggest threat from Malware comes from their ability to funnel in more malware over time. This commonly results in computers running extremely slowly, as they are bogged down by large amounts of malware all trying to run simultaneously.
What is Spyware?
Like the name suggests, Spyware is used for spying on a machine. They usually attempt to steal personal information like passwords, credit card numbers, or other details to be sent back to its creators.
What is RansomWare?
RansomWare is one of the most intrusive types of malware your system can be infected with. Like the name suggests, RansomWare will hold your computer ransom. It will often disguise its-self as a warning from government or law enforcement agencies, asking you to pay a sum of money to regain control of your computer. This type is malware is never from a legitimate party, and is always a scam. Paying the demanded ransom in no way guarantees access will be returned to you, and can often lead to further requests for money.
In the case of RansomWare, off the shelf security software is usually not enough to remove the infection, and usually requires a professional cleaning. Organizations like the Geek Squad do have the skill and tools to remove the above mentioned threats in most cases, though especially with RansomWare, there is never guarantee that your personal data will be recoverable.
How to I defend against Viruses?
The first, and best line of defense is you. Being vigilant, and mindful of what you’re doing, where you are, and what you’re clicking on while online is the best thing you can do to prevent an infection from ever happening in the first place. If you receive a message from someone you don’t know with an attachment, or see a strange looking ad on a website, don’t click it or open it.
Update your software: Performing security updates for common software like your Operating System, Java, Flash, and others is another key area where many people can improve their defenses. Next time you see that pop up in the corner of your screen telling you there is an update available, do it.
Unfortunately this can be a double-edged sword. Encountering pop-ups or banners on websites that disguise themselves to look like updates for common software is a common tactic for spreading viruses and malware. This again comes back to being vigilant, and mindful of what you’re clicking on. If it looks suspicious, it probably is. There isn’t one simple way to know if something is legitimate or not, and being able to easily spot fake adds and updates is something that comes with time and experience.
Install Security Software: Security software comes in a wide range of different flavors from many different companies. Simple Anti-Virus programs scan your system for infection and attempt to remove them. Security Suites are a collection of programs including anti-virus, among others. Some of this software actively monitors your system and can sometimes even stop an infection from ever happening in the first place.
While there are some legitimately good free options out there for Anti-Virus software, Security Suites usually have an associated fee, but will offer a much greater level of protection. It is also critical to keep whatever security software you have updated, as new attacks and infections are discovered daily.
The need for security software isn’t just isolated to Windows anymore either. As they have gotten more and more popular with time, Apple computers have also become a target. Many major security companies now offer security and anti-virus software for the Mac, and Best Buy now includes a trial security subscription with every Mac sold, just like we do with all Windows computers we sell.
Use a Firewall: A Firewall is a program or physical piece of hardware used to filter, and block access to a system. Every copy of Windows comes with a basic Firewall built in, which is enabled by default. Many Security Suites will also include a more robust Firewall as part of its software collection, which can provide better protection than what your computer came with. It is not recommended to turn-off or disable your Firewall, as doing so is like leaving your car or home unlocked all the time.
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