Protecting your Windows PC against Malware and Trojans
Malware is a short form for a malicious software program. Malware does not just cover viruses and worms; it now has been expanded to include Trojans, spyware, adware, rootkits, and ransomware among others. Malware started out as innocent experiments or jokes. But as their potential to gather information secretly and deceptively grew, they started becoming malevolent and complex. Malware is now mostly used to collect personal information, financial information and passwords for illegal financial gains. Malware is generally installed without knowledge, but can sometimes come embedded in official software as well. A quick description on the types of malware:
• Computer Viruses – Infects computers to perform harmful activities like data corruption
• Worms – Spread by replication over a network causing bandwidth issues and creating “backdoors” which allow others to gain illegal access to the system
• Spyware – Resides in the computer and gathers information to transmit it
• Adware – Resides within an installed software and provides targeted advertisements to the user
• Rootkits – Hidden software that can take over control of the system and make malicious changes
• Ransomware – Once installed,its password locks the users information and demands a fee to unlock it
In many cases, malware is able to hide itself by creating the illusion of a legitimate program
Trojans are a highly destructive computer program. They enter a user’s system in a discreet manner,piggybacking on some program of the user’s interest, like an email attachment or software download. Trojans allow the attacker to gain full control of the host and can cause irreparable damage like formatting hard disks, blue screen of death, keystroke logging, data theft, webcam access etc. A well established use of Trojan’s is when the attacker uses the host computer as a proxy to conduct illegal activities over the network or Internet, while hiding his or her own identity.
There are numerous ways malware and Trojans can gain access to your system. A computer virus usually requires a host. Downloading or installing pirated software is one of the most prominent ways of the system getting infected. While the software seems to be legal, it actually has malicious code written which will transfer the virus or worm to your system. File sharing over peer to peer networks is also a big risk, especially as the user is comfortable, thinking that they are receiving a file that they have a requirement of. Visiting websites that are suspicious or being redirected to unknown websites is one of the easiest ways for the system to get infected. Operating systems and antivirus software which are out of date make the system an easy prey for malware and Trojans.
Keeping your Windows PC free from Malware and Trojans is a very simple task. But first you need to understand how to know if your PC is infected or not. Some of the easiest ways to know this is if
• You realize that there are multiple installation of toolbars, most of which you either never downloaded or never used.
• You realize that your system is running extremely slowly even though there are very few applications running.
• Constant pop-ups or alerts, requesting you to speed up your system or virus alerts is another good example.
• Your web browser does not open even if all network connections are working. This is a case where the malware blocks your access to the net using a proxy
• The free disk space on your computer suddenly decreases
• Your contacts ask you to stop sending them spam
Ways to protect infection by malware and Trojans
• Installing antivirus software on your system is the best way to stay clear of malware and Trojans. Ensure that your antivirus definitions are always up to date.
• Avoid visiting sites which you are not aware of, or may seem suspicious.
• Always keep your Windows software updated, including patches and bug fixes from the official website. Microsoft generally releases software patches on the second Tuesday of every month referred to as “Patch Tuesday”. Ensure you do not miss this.
• Avoid installing pirated software on your PC.
• Be very careful while opening email attachments, especially from unknown senders.
Installing antivirus software is your best bet to avoid your system getting infected. There are many antivirus solutions available on the market. Some of them are Norton, McAfee, AVG, Bitdefender, F-Secure among others. One of the latest entrants is an antivirus called AVStrike. It has a very clean user interface and is super fast, running stealthily in the background. Its award winning software provides advanced detection capabilities, safer downloading, a dynamic dashboard and advanced reporting and notification capabilities.
Please keep in mind that despite your best precautions, malware can still go undetected. Always remember Prevention is better than Cure.
