Is Spyware Dangerous?
Feb 02, 2022
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Technology has advanced significantly in the past few decades. So much so that it has become ever more convenient and easy for us to use. In our modern society, technology is pivotal, and it’s almost impossible to go without it.
However, the very technology that we rely on and use every single day could also put us in danger. Wherever there is something important, there will be someone with malicious intentions looking to take advantage of the people using it.
When it comes to technology, cybercriminals are your worst enemies. They have malicious intentions and use their criminal methods for their own good. Cybercriminals use malware such as spyware to their advantage to get the better of you. Spyware can compromise your privacy. If you want to know more about spyware and how to protect yourself against it read on as we cover everything you need to know.
What is Malware?
Firstly, what is “malware”. Malware is short for malicious software, and as the name suggests, it is software that can be installed on your device to cause harm or damage to you or your device in some form.
Malware is a broad term and it includes several different aspects. Some of the most common forms of malware include viruses, spyware and ransomware. The latter being the most dangerous of the three. However, it’s not limited to these three types, and there are many other, less common forms of malware to be found.
The problem is that in recent years the frequency of malware attacks has spiked massively. This is mostly caused by the increase in technology users and the importance of having a device in one form or another. The result is that more people can be targeted by malware, especially if they are not educated on malware and how to avoid it.
Another reason for this severe spike in malware attacks is the recent Covid-19 pandemic which sent the world into lockdown. With many people being unable to leave their homes during the lockdown period, many of them spent a lot more time on their devices. Thus, cybercriminals were able to successfully install malware on more devices than ever before.
Unfortunately the rate of malware attacks is still on the rise, and this could be due to the fact that many people are still unaware of the dangers they face when they’re online. In addition, most people don’t take the necessary precautions to keep their devices secure.
What is Spyware?
Spyware is one type of malicious software. Spyware is designed to keep track of your online activity and steal your personal information. This is done without your consent of course, and many times it can be done without your knowledge as well.
The personal information that is stolen from your device using spyware can be used to commit fraud or identity theft. Online identity theft is a common crime in the modern age and you should be aware of the dangers this poses to you.
You may think that your online activity being tracked is not necessarily a big deal
(it can be for some who are serious about their privacy), however, cybercriminals can use this information against you as well.
However, a skilled cybercriminal will use your online activity to craft a precise phishing scam that they can use to target you more effectively. Phishing scams can be used to steal your login credentials or install even more malware on your device. One thing leads to another and you’re in more danger than ever before.
How Does Spyware Get Onto my Device?
The main method that cybercriminals use to install spyware and other forms of malware on your device is through phishing scams. Phishing scams have grown in popularity recently, and cybercriminals are now using social engineering to make them phishing scams better and increase their chances of being successful.
What is social engineering? Social engineering is when a cybercriminal poses as a popular company that you might know and trust. They’ll send a phishing email to you posing as that company, using the same color scheme and logos in the email to fool you into interacting with the attachments or links in the email. Once you interact with the links or attachments, spyware can be installed on your device.
Spyware can also be installed on your device through fraudulent links online. Some cybercriminals hide links on the internet that, when clicked, will prompt the spyware to be installed on your device. Remember, links can be hidden as images, icons and pop up ads, so avoid these at all costs!
How Can I Protect my Device Against Spyware?
Keeping your device protected against spyware and other types of malicious software is critical in our modern day and age. You’re under constant attack, especially with the recent increase in cybercrimes all around the world.
The best form of defense against spyware is premium antivirus software. Antivirus software constantly scans your device for any malware or suspicious files that might be on it. Once malware has been detected on your device, the antivirus can take action to remove the malware from your device safely and securely.
You must ensure that your antivirus software is always kept up to date. Software updates are regularly sent out by developers to fix any potential flaws that have been discovered in their system by users. These flaws could be exploited by cybercriminals and used to bypass the antivirus software.
Software updates are also often used to add new safety features and functions on the antivirus software. These extra features will help to keep cybercriminals out of your device even when they begin to develop new strategies and tactics to bypass your antivirus software. It’s a good idea to turn the automatic software update feature on when you use your antivirus software, and always allow it to complete its updates whenever it needs to.