What is Malware And How Can I Protect Myself Against it?
Oct 06, 2021
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We face many dangers on the internet. Many innocent internet users are the victims of cybercrimes. If you are not aware of the tactics that are used by cybercriminals and how to protect yourself from them you could be at risk of a cyberattack.
One of the most important dangers on the internet to be aware of is malware. Malware is a form of malicious software that can be extremely dangerous if it were to make its way onto one of your devices.
Understanding malware and protecting your devices from it can save you a lot of headaches. Antivirus is the best form of defence against malware. However, it is also important to understand how to prevent it from getting onto your device in the first place.
What Are Some Examples of Malware?
There are several different forms of malware. Some of them are more common than others, however, all of them can be dangerous if they are not properly dealt with in time. Identifying different types of malware can help you get rid of them.
Malware is a type of software that is specifically designed to damage and harm devices. Some examples of malware include viruses, spyware, ransomware and adware. Each one has a different purpose and end goal, none of which is any good for the victim.
For example, ransomware can encrypt specific files once it has made its way onto the victim’s devices. No one will be able to open, transfer or access the files in any way until a ransom fee is paid to the criminal.
Spyware on the other hand is installed on a device to monitor what is happening on it. It will allow the criminal to remotely view the victim’s screen and gain access to personal information and even login credentials.
Viruses can also come in different types and forms, however, most of them are destructive. Viruses can corrupt files, software and sometimes even destroy hardware. These are used to cause a significant amount of damage to the victim’s devices.
How Can Malware Make Its Way Onto Your Devices?
Cybercriminals are constantly finding new ways to install malicious software onto people’s devices. This makes it difficult to keep up with the latest trends in cybercrime. However, understanding them can help you to avoid becoming a victim of a cyberattack.
The main way that criminals install malicious software onto devices is by using phishing scams. Phishing scams are nothing new, in fact, they have been around for many years. The scam involves tricking people into clicking a link. This is a form of social engineering which involves manipulating people into performing specific actions.
Once the link has been clicked, the malicious software will begin downloading onto your device. In most cases, the software will be downloaded in the background and run in the device’s RAM so you may never even know about it being installed on your device.
While this may sound like a simple tactic, it can become very complex, which is why so many people fall victim to it. Cybercriminals are able to craft convincing scams that trick people into clicking on links.
For example, one of the latest trends is a fake email from Netflix stating that your account is on hold and you need to update your billing details. At the bottom of the email, there is a link that will either prompt malware to be installed, or it will take you to a fake website with a keylogger that can steal your information.
What makes these scams so convincing is that they look official. It will normally contain the Netflix logo and color scheme followed by some written content that looks like it could have been written by a Netflix employee.
Malware can also come from other forms of internet scams. This can include fake pop up adverts with hidden links or even fake websites that trick the user into clicking on a link.
How do You Protect Your Devices From Malware?
Protecting your device from malware is crucial. It can help to prevent your files from being corrupted or your passwords and personal information from being stolen. Viruses can also cause your device to become unusable.
The first form of defence you need to get for your devices is antivirus software. Antivirus software will constantly scan your devices for any suspicious software. It will then also take the necessary steps to remove it from your device.
You should also make use of premium VPN software. VPN software will encrypt your internet traffic and prevent anyone from seeing what you are doing on your devices. It can also change the location of your IP address. It is important to avoid free VPNs as they are not as secure and often have restrictions. In some cases, they can also be developed by untrustworthy third-party vendors
Another important factor is learning how to identify phishing scams. They often look official and legit, however, there may be some spelling and grammatical mistakes that can give it away. You can also sometimes identify inconsistencies in the logo.
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