The term malware is coined from malicious software. Malware is software written to damage devices, steal data, and cause a mishap.
Viruses, Trojans, spyware, and ransomware are different types of malware.
Teams of hackers often create malware. They usually want to spread it or sell it to those who offer it the most on the Dark Web.
However, there may be other reasons for creating malware; it can be used as a protest tool, a means of testing security, or even a weapon of war between governments.
However, no matter why and how malware appears, it’s always bad news when it ends on your computer.
Fortunately, this article would help prevent or remove malware from your computer.
What Does Malware Do?
Malware is designed to infiltrate and damage computers without the user’s consent.
Here is a list of the most common types of malware;
- Viruses: Like their biological namesakes, viruses attach to clean files and infect other clean files. They can spread without control, damage underlying system functionality, and delete or damage files. Viruses usually appear as executable files (.exe).
- Trojans: This type of malware disguises itself as legitimate software or is hidden in genuine software that has been affected. It tends to behave discreetly and creates a backdoor to your security to allow other malware to enter.
- Spyware: Spyware is malware created to spy on you. It hides in the background and records what you do online, including passwords, credit card numbers, browsing habits, etc.
- Worms: Worms infect entire networks of devices, whether local or the internet, using network interfaces. Each affected machine successively affects others.
- Ransomware: This type of malware usually blocks your computer and files and threatens to delete everything if you don’t pay the ransom.
- Adware: Aggressive adware can reduce your security by running ads, providing other malware an easy entry.
- Bonnet networks: Network networks are infected computers designed to work together under the control of an attacker.
How to Protect Yourself From Malware?
Preventing your computer is better than looking for a cure for malware.
Fortunately, straightforward behaviors reduce your chances of encountering nasty software.
- Do not trust strangers online: “Social engineering,” which can include strange emails, instant notifications, fake profiles, and a trivial offer of curiosity, is the first method of spreading malware. Don’t click on it if you don’t know what it is.
- Double-check downloads: malware is often hidden around the corner, from hacked sites to official stores. Therefore, before downloading, always check the supplier’s reliability by carefully reading the reviews and comments.
- Get an ad blocker: Malicious advertising is on the rise, where hackers use infected banners or pop-up ads to infect your device. Since you can’t know which ads are bad, it’s safer to block them with a trusted ad blocker.
- Be careful when browsing. Malware can be found anywhere, but it is most common on websites with weak security support, such as small local websites. Joining large, reputable sites greatly reduces the risk of encountering malware.
Unfortunately, even if you follow the tips above, you can still be infected with malware – hackers have found ways to infiltrate their viruses in every corner of the internet.
For intact security, you must combine healthy internet habits with powerful and reliable anti-malware software, such as AVG AntiVirus FREE, which detects and stops malware before infecting your computer, Mac, or mobile device.
How to Detect Malware?
Some strains of malware are easier to detect than others. Some malware, like ransomware and adware, instantly show their presence by encrypting files or running endless advertisements.
Others, like Trojans and spyware, do their best to hide you for as long as possible, which means they might be in your system long before you realize they are there.
Others, like viruses and worms, can act secretly for a while before symptoms of your infection appear, such as freezing, deleting, or replacing files, stopping suddenly, or having a hyperactive processor.
The only safe way to detect all malware before it infects your PC, Mac, or mobile device is to install anti-malware software with detection and analysis tools.
This software will detect the malware currently on your device and block malware attempts to infect it.
How to Remove Malware?
Each form of malware has its way of infecting and damaging computers and data, so each requires a different method of removing malware.
To get started, check out our virus and malware removal tips. The best way to stay protected or remove the infection is to use anti-malware software, more commonly known as antivirus.
Malware on Android
Computers aren’t the only devices that receive malware—any device that can access the Internet, including your Android phone, is at risk.
Although you may not hear much about it, Android attacks are on the rise, and phishing websites, fake apps, and unofficial app stores are the biggest distributors of malware.
Android malware, like malware on your computer, can do several things and cause damage.
Viruses, ransomware, botnets, Trojans, spyware, and more are exactly what you’d expect in the smart device era!
It can be protected if the device can be attacked, and Android phones are no exception.
Download Android antivirus to protect your phone from anything that can threaten you online.
