What is malware?
So many aspects of our lives have changed in the first couple of decades of the 21st century, and much of this is down to new technology and the Internet. In fact, our wonderful Winzum online competition community simply couldn’t exist without the technological progress made over the last several years, and we’re not the only ones reaping the benefits either!
But here’s the thing: whilst nobody is complaining about the new technology that has allowed us to do so many new things, it has also opened the door to many more cyber criminals and fraudulent activity. Online safety has never been more important, something we take very seriously at Winzum, just read this article for proof [the importance of cyber security].
At Winzum we are also committed to teaching you lovely lot about various things to do with online safety, in the hope that it helps you keep safe as much as you can. Malware is something that is important to know about, because you never know when you might be hit by a malware attack. Keep reading to find out more!
A simple malware definition
So, the first thing to know about malware is that it stands for the term “malicious software”, which is basically a piece of computer software that is able to wreak havoc if it manages to infect your systems. The term malware isn’t singular either, and can refer to a range of different types of dangerous software that can completely ruin your online safety.
In most cases malware is used by cyber criminals to steal personal information such as bank details, which they can then use to engage in financial fraud and other criminal activities. Malware can also be used to externally control computer systems, just like how the US managed to externally shut down an Iranian nuclear centrifuge in the 2000s.
The different types of malware
As we said already, there are many different types of malware available to criminals to use in the 21st century, and it is essential for everybody to know at least the most common examples. We’re nice at Winzum, so we took the liberty of detailing a few types below:
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Viruses: Computer viruses are without a doubt the most well known out of all the different forms of malware, and can be spread via email or other downloadable online things such as torrent sites.
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Spyware: Spyware is a malware program that can be secretly installed on to a computer in order to spy on an individual’s online activity, emails and even phone calls.
- Trojans: Trojans are some of the most common types of virus and malware. They are also the hardest to spot, because they often appear like harmless programs that you might download in order to play a game, for instance.
Combatting malware
By far the most effective way to combat malware is to ensure that your computer is loaded up with powerful anti-virus software, as this will cover your back in most cases even if you mistakenly click on a malicious link.
It also just pays to be sensible online, your online safety is completely in your own hands, and if you take the care not to click on any dodgy websites or emails you should be fine.