Malware, short for malicious (or malevolent) software, is software used or programmed by attackers to disrupt computer operation, gather sensitive information, or gain access to private computer systems. It can appear in the form of code, scripts, active content, and other software. ‘Malware’ is a general term used to refer to a variety of forms of hostile or intrusive software.
Malware includes computer viruses, ransomware, worms, trojan horses, rootkits, keyloggers, dialers, spyware, adware, malicious BHOs, rogue security software and other malicious programs; the majority of active malware threats are usually worms or trojans rather than viruses.
It’s not always easy to tell if your computer was compromised or not,because these days cybercriminals are going to great lengths to hide their code and conceal what their programs are doing on an infected computer.
It’s very difficult to provide a list of characteristic symptoms of a infected computer because the same symptoms can also be caused by hardware incompatibilities or system instability,however here are just a few examples that may suggest that your PC has been compromised :
How do you know if your computer has Adware?
There are a number of symptoms you can identify if your computer has adware. Listed below are some to look for:
How do I avoid Adware?
Malware includes computer viruses, ransomware, worms, trojan horses, rootkits, keyloggers, dialers, spyware, adware, malicious BHOs, rogue security software and other malicious programs; the majority of active malware threats are usually worms or trojans rather than viruses.
It’s not always easy to tell if your computer was compromised or not,because these days cybercriminals are going to great lengths to hide their code and conceal what their programs are doing on an infected computer.
It’s very difficult to provide a list of characteristic symptoms of a infected computer because the same symptoms can also be caused by hardware incompatibilities or system instability,however here are just a few examples that may suggest that your PC has been compromised :
- You may receive the error “Internet Explorer could not display the page” when attempting to access certain websites
- Your web browser (e.g., Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome) freezes, hangs or is unresponsive
- Your web browser’s default homepage is changed
- Access to security related websites is blocked
- You get redirected to web pages other than the one you intended to go to
- You receive numerous web-browser popup messages
- Strange or unexpected toolbars appear at the top of your web browser
- Your computer runs slower than usual
- Your computer freezes, hangs or is unresponsive
- There are new icons on your desktop that you do not recognize
- Your computer restarts by itself (but not a restart caused by Windows Updates)
- You see unusual error messages (e.g., messages saying there are missing or corrupt files folders)
- You are unable to access the Control Panel, Task Manager, Registry Editor or Command Prompt.
How do you know if your computer has Adware?
There are a number of symptoms you can identify if your computer has adware. Listed below are some to look for:
- You receive pop-up ads on a regular basis
- Your browser homepage continually changes
- Your computer is sluggish or slower than it was a few months ago
- An unfamiliar search bar or toolbar appears in your web browser
- You uninstall the unfamiliar search bar or toolbar, and it continues to appear
How do I avoid Adware?
- Install pop-up blockers.
- Before clicking a download link, make sure you recognize the publisher's name in the dialog box before clicking "yes" or "accept."
- Be cautious with the websites you view and frequent, especially if they contain suspicious content (i.e., content that is explicit, illegal, etc.)
- Don't download files from unknown sources, either from your email or the web.
- Don't download attachments (e.g., pictures, games, electronic greetings) unless they're from someone you know.
- Whenever you receive a pop-up, close the window by clicking the red "X" in the corner. By clicking "OK" or "Agree" to close the pop-up you could be accepting spyware to download to your computer.
- Be careful when downloading free programs, especially music files and media sharing programs. Read the licensing agreements to understand exactly what you're downloading. Many popular applications include spyware components, and some applications won't work without those components.
- Run anti-adware software on a regular basis to catch any programs that may have infected your computer. After the software removes the adware it finds, restart your computer and scan it again to make sure all adware was deleted. Some adware programs can be stubborn and difficult to remove, so it might take more than one try.
- Protect your computer with a firewall, especially if you use a broadband connection.
- Don't download any programs from websites you don't trust.
- ActiveX controls are prone to spyware and other malware, so don't approve the installation of any ActiveX controls you haven't already requested.
- Protect yourself
- While there may be disagreements over how to handle the growing cybersecurity problem, there are ways to keep scammers out.
Follow these steps to keep hackers at bay: - Always use antivirus software and a firewall. It's important to obtain and use antivirus software and firewalls from reputable companies. It's also important to continually maintain both of these through automatic updates.
- Enable popup blockers. Popups are regularly used by criminals to spread malicious software. To avoid accidental clicks on or within popups, it's best to prevent them from appearing in the first place.
- Always back up the content on your computer. If you back up, verify, and maintain offline copies of your personal and application data, ransomware scams will have limited impact on you. If you are targeted, instead of worrying about paying a ransom to get your data back, you can simply have your system wiped clean and then reload your files.
- Be skeptical. Don’t click on any emails or attachments you don't recognize, and avoid suspicious websites altogether.