Tips For Avoiding Malware
While it can be unsettling to know that using the Internet puts users at risk for malware, there are certain practices they can follow that minimize their chances of being infected considerably.
Users should regard all links in an e-mail and from social networking sites as potentially malicious. Malware producers and spammers are adept at “spoofing” – making messages look like they are from trusted individuals. Users should only open attachments they are expecting. If they receive an unexpected attachment from a friend, they should contact this person through another means to verify its safety.
User should keep their browsers and browser plug-ins (Adobe Reader, Adobe Flash, etc.) up to date with security patches. They should install anti-malware protection software that updates automatically and handles both viruses and spyware. They should also ensure that Windows updates automatically to fix vulnerabilities.
At the same time, users should be cautious of malware that comes in the form of fake updates, scanning software, or fixes – these downloads are usually malicious software that can potentially destroy a computer. Users should always download software updates directly from the original software producer’s site.
To prevent malware, it is important for users to question links and attachments, as well as keep their computers updated.
Part 1: Malware - What Is It?
Part 2: Malware - How Did I Get It?
Article Tags: malware, spyware, viruses, virus, malware removal, spyware removal, viruses removal, virus removal, computer repair
