Malware is a common term that effectively means “malicious software” and is something that has been around pretty much since the web was started. When people talk about malware it is often used to refer to a complete group of infections that include the likes of spyware, keyloggers, adware, viruses, and trojan horse infections to name just a few. Most people who have a computer, laptop, and internet connection will almost certainly, at some point, become the victim of a malware attack and this is something that needs to be prevented due to its severe consequences.
Malware, once inside a system, can cause considerable damage to an operating system. This includes corruption and removal of critical system files or alternative tampering with services/programs. Both of these actions can bring about unwanted instability to a system and can result in huge financial losses in order to fix the problem. Let’s take a look at some valuable measures that can be implemented to prevent malware and virus attacks.
Top 4 Tips for Malware Protection:
1. Use Internet Security
Using internet security software is something that all who have computers or laptops should do. Malware and ransomware attacks have been on the rapid rise in the last few years and users need to protect their systems with this first line of defense. Keep in mind that it’s important to use a complete internet security suite that is capable of handling all kinds of malware, offers live protection, and also critical updates. Read reviews and be prepared to pay a little money for a good quality one. Use a reliable download manager tool to download these programs.
2. Avoid Phishing Links
Have you ever received strange emails in your inbox that ask you to click on suspicious-looking links? These are called phishing links and if you click on them, they will redirect you to other websites that are designed to capture your details or install malware. Once these details are captured, be it financial or personal, hackers can use it against you and cause unwanted damage to your situation. To be safe from this, never click on links in emails. Too many people fall victim to this every day and it has resulted in people losing their life savings as a result of these careless actions.
3. Be Careful What You Download
Downloading files from the web is something that most people love to do on a daily basis. Unfortunately, it’s been proven that the most common gateway through which malware attacks a computer system is via downloads. When you download mp3’s, games, documents, archived files, or even the notorious “.EXE” files, you should always scan them with an antivirus tool before installation. If you scan each file with a high-quality internet security tool before you download them, it will help prevent un unwanted attacks on your system.
4. Email Attachments
Most people who receive emails with attachments are very quick to open them up without thinking twice. Once again, attachments can contain trojans, spyware, and viruses that once opened, can corrupt your system or open it up to hackers who can gain control of your system. The simple way to prevent this is to block emails that contain attachments from unknown sources and scan attachments before you open them up.
Suggestion: Follow these 4 tips to help you keep your computer system safe against malware attacks.