Five Kinds of Malware that you Should Be Aware of

A common and frequent computer repair we encounter is to restore a computer following a virus or malware attack. The damage caused is often enough that we have no choice but to clean the computer and then rebuild your operating system. Although this can be time-consuming, it also involves all data being deleted on the computer. All your videos, photos as well as documents that you have on your device are erased. It's often more than the hassle of losing your laptop for a short period of time that creates the most stress.

A lot of these malware attacks can be avoided by taking a few easy steps but before that, let's examine the type of malware out there.

Spyware

Spyware is a program that collects data and transmits it to the program's creator. The information can range from passwords, personal data and logins, browsing habits, and much more. Your personal information is worth money, and that's the reason Spyware is so common. Spyware can be found in sites or programs that are infected and may be used to isolate or used as a prelude to the threat of ransomware.

Malware

Malware is a malicious program that performs a variety of functions. Malware is also a generic term that is often used to describe any type of infection. Malware may be ransomware, Spyware, and instantly download viruses that perform other irritating tasks. Malware can also be found in affected websites or apps.

Adware

Adware is designed to display ads in addition to legitimate ones, or in their own form as popups and browser add-ons, or even within other software. A majority of these advertisements are scams or fakes. Adware by itself does not cause harm to your computer; however, it could slow it considerably. It's spread via freeware, malware-infected programs, or fake downloaded.

Rootkits

Rootkits are by far the most annoying type of malware because they are able to infiltrate themselves into the very core part of the system. They're undetectable by anything other than the most recent antivirus software. They could wipe your hard drive clean, prevent you from accessing your operating system, or even delete files. Rootkits are also distributed through freeware, malware-infected applications as well as fake downloads.

Ransomware

The name suggests that ransomware holds you hostage to an amount of ransom. It affects your computer, blocks files or whole hard drives, and displays an option to pay through BitCoin. After you have paid for it, you are (sometimes) given a number that allows you to access your PC. It's a very serious type of malware that is able to appear to be genuine software. It is transmitted through malware-infected websites or programs.

How can you avoid malware?

It's impossible to completely eliminate malware when you are on the internet; however, it is possible to shield yourself from the majority of it. Choose a top-quality antivirus program on your computer, as well as a firewall and an antivirus scanner. Configure them all to function, update them, and scan them on a regular basis.

The majority of browsers now alert you when it believes that a site has been infected by malware, and you can take action to stay clear of it. Also, avoid downloading files that you aren't familiar with and avoid clicking on links in emails if you don't know who the sender is. If you adhere to these guidelines, you probably won't have to bring your laptop to us to be repaired. Best of luck!