Malware Threats – One Click That Can Cost You Your PC and Theft of Sensitive Information

Only one click and that is it! Malware can take over your entire computer system. Malware are malicious programs and they include viruses, Trojan, worms , scareware, crimeware, spyware and adware and rootkits and the likes. Malware programs are becoming more and more sophisticated each day and they are being developed by the hour. These are malicious deadly programs that are developed to:

• Harm you computer- viruses replicate themselves, take over your computer, and try to destroy  and modify files, folders or entire operating system just for the kicks
• Take over and compromise a complete network of computers – worms can take advantage of a computer system’s  security vulnerability to replicate itself  and spread to other connecting computers
• Contact another server through Internet – a Trojan horse give  a potential hacker on a remote computer  access to  a  PC   
• Steal personal information such as credit card credentials and other sensitive information
• Spy on your browsing history – spyware can manipulate your online activities through the backdoor, change your computer settings and redirect you to another website
•  Con you into purchasing a fictitious antivirus or antispyware program – these are typically known as scareware, rouge antivirus or antispyware programs
• Enable other malware and viruses to install themselves and take over your PC

While browsing the web, just one wrong click is all the virus needs and it will download itself onto your computer system.  Does this imply you shouldn’t trust any website?  To be honest, everyone is prone to virus and malicious attacks over the Internet, we can’t be too careful. However, taking simple precautions can make a huge difference. What you can do to prevent such attacks or reduce the risk

• Ensure you have very good Internet security software installed
• Ensure you set your security software to get real-time updates
• Be careful what you download to your computer via the web
• Ensure email attachments are scanned before download
• Stay clear of dubious websites
• Install web browser updates

Sudden Alerts If you start to get sudden spontaneous security messages on your computer screen, or some bogus scan reports that won’t let go, this is a critical sign that a fake antivirus or antispyware programs has just installed itself on your PC. Do not click on any of the messages or follow the instructions on your screen, this way, it will be easier for you to run your security software immediately. Use a malware removal tool such as the Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware to quickly get rid of the fake software or quickly do a system restore, if you don’t have a malware removal installed.

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