Here’s Why You Know Less Than You Think About Malware

Malware is one of those annoying things anyone with a computer will experience at some point. And, thanks to the evolution of smartphone technology, your mobile might get it too! Most people have some idea of what malware is about; they will assume it’s a virus.

The trouble with malware is that most people don’t know it exists on their computers. Many infections are quite sophisticated and go unnoticed and snoop on your computer. In fact, in most cases, the only time you’ll know you have malware is when odd things happen to your computer!

So, just how much do you know about malware, and do you know enough not to become a victim of it? If you’re not sure, today’s blog post is for you. I’m going to explain to you some of the things about malware that you probably never knew. By the end of this blog post, you will hopefully know more about the subject and how to better protect yourself.

Not all virus scanners do a good job of preventing malware

Are you someone that prefers not to pay for their anti-virus security software? Do you just opt for free solutions and assume they are “all the same”? If so, let me stop you right there!

Just because some software is free doesn’t mean it’s any good! In fact, a Google search will reveal that many free AV solutions have low malware detection rates. It literally pays to invest in a premium product with a proven track record.

Malware can render your hard drive inoperable

Believe it or not, some dangerous infections can blackmail you into paying a ransom. For the most part, an experienced IT tech can get rid of the malware for you. But, some malware infections will lock down your system.

What they will do is encrypt your hard drive and render it unusable. When that happens, all you can do is format it and start from scratch, losing your data in the process.

Your browser probably sucks at preventing malware

If you tend to visit sites that you wouldn’t go to at work, chances are they will try to download malware onto your PC. How does that happen? The answer is simple: it will download malware through your web browser!

Browsers like Internet Explorer are notorious for such problems. These days, modern browsers like Google Chrome and Firefox help to prevent malware. Still, you might have to install an ad-blocking extension to ensure that happens.

If you’re an Internet Explorer user, this guide at MalwareTips.com will help you out. In short, it shows you how to reset your browser to default settings and clear your cache.

You are using a proxy server that gives you malware

Did you know that some free proxy servers on the Internet host malware? You might think you are visiting one site, for example, but you get redirected to another. And that “hijack” site will attempt to download malware on your computer.

How can you prevent that from happening? Stop using free proxy servers! Instead, use reputable VPNs like ExpressVPN.

Good luck!