Protect Yourself From Malware

Protect Yourself From Malware

Malware is short for malicious software, malware is designed to damage your computer, server, and network its also used to collect personal information. Listed below are definitions of several different types of malware and information on how to protect your computer from them.

 

Trojan Horses known as “Trojans”

Trogans are destructive programs that masquerade as benign applications. Trojans often arrive in email attachments, Instant Messages, and downloads from infected websites.

 

Two of the most common types of Trojans are spyware and key loggers, both of which secretly collect information and send it to a third party without your knowledge.

 

Spyware

Spyware covertly gathers information about your Internet use and is typically used for advertising purposes.

 

Key Loggers

Key loggers record keystrokes to gather passwords, credit card numbers, and other personal information. Hackers often include key loggers as attachment to SPAM.

 

What Can I Do To Protect My Computer?

• Don’t open attachments to unsolicited email. This is the most common way computers become infected with key loggers.

 

• Install updates and patches for your operating systems and anti-virus & anti-spyware program, as they are made available.

 

• Install a firewall to prevent unauthorized access your computer.

 

• Install anti-virus and anti-spyware software the scans email and files as they are downloaded from the Internet regularly. To get this software you can go here:

http://bigdomainhost.net/essentials/security.htm

 

• Search the internet for spyware reports. Use the software’s name and the word ‘spyware’ as your search keywords.

 

• Do not allow anyone to access you computer without your knowledge. Keep your computer turned off or locked when your not using it.

 

• Never us the “save ID and password” option.

 

• Never write your user ID and/or password on a piece of paper and leave in near your computer.

 

Viruses and Worms

In general, worms, harm networks and consume bandwidth, whereas viruses corrupt files on a specific computer.

 

Viruses and worms both spread via email. Viruses require human intervention to spread (e.g., opening the infected program), whereas worms do not.