Malware is unfortunately one of the biggest problems your computer will ever have to deal with. Malware is malicious software that is created by computer hackers, spammers and fraudsters to solely perform untold damage on your PC, your files and your data. But while anti-virus programs and browser updates try to protect you against these horrible issues, you may be surprised to learn that 35,000 new types of malware are released across the world each day? In this brief guide we will explain the basics of Malware, the most common types of malware problems and how you can protect yourself and your PC.
What are the different types of malware and how do they work?
Malware comes in several ugly forms including but not limited to:
- Software Viruses – These are the most common but serious types of malicious computer bugs. Viruses can uninstall your anti-virus, disable your firewall and severely damage your Operating System.
- Worms – These computer worms are highly dangerous. Once inside your PC these scripts can cause untold mayhem including permanently deleting your files and emailing all of your contacts with spam.
- Trojans – Often used to steal your data and financial records, Trojans are treacherous and often incredibly difficult to detect.
- Key loggers – This evil flavor of malware hides on your PC and records everything you type. All of your data, passwords, credit card numbers and personal searches can be sent back to a computer hacker or spammer for various exploits.
- Spyware – Spyware tracks your internet search history. It can then serve spam adverts directly on your PC, including changing web page content.
These are just a selection of common malware, but there are many more varieties each with their own damaging features.
What should I do if my PC gets malware and how do I protect myself?
The first thing you should do if you think your Windows PC has malware is to unplug the internet cable or turn off Wi-Fi. Almost all malware is infected via the internet and the malware could still be using web access to be controlled by its creators. Your next step is to reboot the PC into safe mode. You can normally access this when the PC hasn’t been shut down properly or by hitting F8 on the keyboard when you first switch it on. Once you are in safe mode, you should carefully go through your software to remove any unwanted new programs. Next you should use your anti-virus to run a scan of your computer to pick up any hidden viruses or other malware. Once your PC is clean, reboot Windows into normal mode. To protect your PC in the future, ensure that both your web browser is up to date along with your anti-virus software. Turn on Microsoft Windows Update tool and ensure your Firewall is also switched on. To help prevent your PC from picking up future malware, try not to download software from unknown sources. Be careful opening email attachments and when browsing non-western websites.
We hope that this malware guide has explained the dangers of malware and inform you better of how to protect yourself from this computer problem. Last year there were well over 10 million different varieties of malware affecting millions of PC and causing misery to hundreds of millions of people and businesses around the world. After reading this article, you should no longer be one of them.
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