Virus, malware and spyware – computer viruses that everyone knows and nobody wants. But what can you do to protect yourself from viruses and the like? In this post, you will learn tips and security measures to protect your PC from attacks.
Vulnerabilities
If you want to protect your computer from viruses and attacks, you have to protect your computer all around. There are security gaps not only in programs and operating systems, but also in BIOS, firmware and hardware. The better you protect yourself, the less likely it is that your PC will be infected.
What malware is there?
In addition to other malware, well-known and frequently occurring malware will now be described.
Computer virus
Computer viruses spread from PC to PC and can appear as file or link viruses, for example. The files usually end with “.exe”, “.com” or “.scr”. As soon as such a file is opened, the virus starts automatically.
Computer worm
The so-called worms spread independently within a network and are typically e-mail attachments. Worms multiply extremely quickly and sometimes take up entire memory resources – the computing power drops and the computer can be paralyzed.
Trojans
A Trojan, or Trojan horse, is an apparently harmless program with an embedded virus. Here, programs are installed on the PC in order to access sensitive data such as passwords or credit card numbers.
Spyware
Spyware hides programs that spy on user behavior on the Internet or personal data and transmit them over the Internet. Spyware can be spread via worms or Trojans, for example.
How can I protect myself?
Every computer should be equipped with an up-to-date antivirus program. An antivirus program recognizes most attacks right away and can quickly detect and ward them off.
Nevertheless, caution is advised. Pay attention to what programs they download and open. The same applies to emails. If an email seems strange to you, under no circumstances open the attachment and check the sender. In addition, you should not store passwords and sensitive data on your computer.
Also Read: Cybersecurity: How To Properly Protect Your Professional Email?