Malware is a Malicious Software that can enter your system through various pathways. And can harm your system by erasing your data, sending your personal information to someone else, and monitoring and hacking your actions.
It is definitely an unwanted guest in our computer systems. The major types of malware are:
- Virus: A virus can infect your computer in a variety of ways, like connecting an already infected pen drive or a device, etc. to your PC or by opening an infected email link.
A virus can damage your PC by infecting the files on your computer in such a way that when you execute the infected file, the virus is also executed along with it, therefore it can be very trivial to get rid of it, especially without losing your files.
A virus can be handled with the help of a good antivirus.
The antivirus quarantines or deletes the infected file so that the virus is also deleted along with it.
The Elk Cloner in 1982 was one of the first viruses to spread beyond its home network.
- Worm: Worm is another piece of malware which is even more harmful than a virus for your PC, worms are self-replicating in a way that they can spread themselves with no user interference by the help of network and emails.
They have been around for quite a long time, even before the viruses.
The Morris worm was one of the first computer worms that kicked off on November 2, 1988. - Trojan Horse: Trojan Horse is one of the more advanced malware wherein it appears to be a legitimate program but actually has a malicious code and as soon as the user runs it, it sends the user's personal information back to its source. However, for it to do its work, it first needs to be run by the user.
It is used widely by hackers to get access to a user's confidential data.
It is majorly spread via emails or by visiting infected websites.
The most popular Trojan horse type is the fake antivirus program, which pops up and claims your PC is infected, it then instructs you to run a program to clean your PC. Users generally do as they are told and hence they trigger the Trojan. - Ransomware: Ransomware is a program that encrypts user data and demands a payment to decrypt it. It can be quite troublesome to be locked out from your own PC and having to pay to get your data back. Therefore it is always better to have a safe backup of your data just in case.
- Adware: These are common malware that often enter your PC, and just pop up at any time, and display ads, which usually have some malicious content. These ads often redirect the user to some other unexpected websites.
- Spyware: Spyware is another common malware that is generally used by a hacker to spy on a user's actions, they can also spy on the user's keystrokes which can give away your important details like passwords, etc.
Cyber safety: The practice of staying safe on the internet is termed cyber safety. There are a few general rules that one must follow while on the internet.
- Never ever disclose your personal information (including passwords, bank details, etc.) to anyone on the web.
- Choose strong passwords.
- Always have a legit antivirus active on your PC.
- Never click on an email link that you doubt.
- Keep your software up to date.
- Try to avoid using public hotspots and wi-fi.
- Use social media wisely.
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