What to Do if I Receive Fraudulent Emails | Antivirus Software

Please note, many fraudulent emails are currently circulating in order to recover your personal and banking data. This scam technique is called "phishing". How to recognize a phishing attempt? What steps should you take, especially with your bank, if you are a victim of phishing?

What is Internet Phishing?

Phishing (or “phishing”)  is an Internet scam technique increasingly used by hackers to steal personal data such as:

• your name and address,
• your contact details (telephone, postal address, etc.),
• your date of birth,
• your bank account number,
• your social security number,
• your Internet connection details for banking or merchant sites ...
• your e-mail username and password, etc. 

To obtain this information, the hackers send a  fraudulent e-mail that appears to come from the Administration  (tax service, health insurance, family allowance fund),  a bank, or a recognized company  (telephone operator, operator of energy, e-commerce site, etc.).

How to Recognize a Fraudulent Email?

The sender's email address includes the name of the organization or company whose identity has been spoofed but often contains anomalies (inconsistencies in the logo, text, spelling errors, etc.). It is one of the first things to look out for to prevent personal data theft.

The content of the email is not personalized (for example, it begins with "dear customer"). The body of the message can contain an image instead of the text to prevent the detection of the mail by the spam filters.

The email invites you in a short time:

• to respond directly to the e-mail by providing personal data,
• to click on a link to complete a form,
• or open an attachment. 

In the typical fraudulent e-mail, the excuses often put forward are the following: an update of your personal data, the verification of a debt, a payment, the imminent deactivation of your account, a reward, or a discount (for example a tax reduction).

In general, the email may contain either a  link that refers to a fraudulent website strongly resembling the official website of the company or organization in question (site URL address, the home page, and logo almost identical), or an attachment (form to fill in, the program to run, etc.).

Either way, you risk giving information to crooks and infecting your computer with a virus that will pick up whatever you type on your keyboard and send it to the crook.

What Are the Precautions to Take After Receiving a Fraudulent Email?

If you have received a suspicious email  :

• do not answer the email,
• Report the fraudulent email and the offense of which you have been the victim to the competent authorities on the Internet platform
• forward it to the address alert@securite.lcl.fr if this email mentions LCL
• do not click on any link contained in the email / do not open the attachments,
• destroy the email,
• update your computer's protection system (antivirus software, firewall, anti-spyware). 

If you have any doubts, call the organization or company in question directly before answering the email.

If you have already replied to a fraudulent email  :

• notify the organization whose identity has been spoofed and change inadvertently transmitted passwords;
• check your bank statements and make sure that no amount has been withdrawn irregularly. If not, contact your bank immediately to object.

What Are the Disadvantages of Antivirus?

Whether it is a desktop computer, a laptop, or a terminal in your office, using a PC is part of daily life. Unfortunately, so are computer viruses. Even if you don't download anything from the Internet, don't think you're safe from viruses or spyware. The latest viruses are designed to travel from one computer to another over the Internet, on their own. Therefore, having antivirus software is a must, but you should know its possible disadvantages before deciding on one.

Limited Detection Techniques

There is more than one way to detect a virus, but a major disadvantage for some antivirus programs is that they cannot use all detection techniques. According to the Oracle ThinkQuest educational foundation, virus scanners are the most common method of detection. Scanning means searching your computer for known virus code patterns. This mechanism has an inherent weakness. Any scanner can give a false alarm if the code in a pattern matches part of the code in a normal file. Worse, it might not detect the code for a new virus. To avoid this, the virus database of an antivirus program must be regularly updated.

Another technique is detecting changes made to files, especially executables (*. Exe). Programs that adopt this technique are called cyclic redundancy check (CRC) scanners. However, a CRC scanner can only detect changes if it already has information about what the files on your PC and operating system are supposed to look like. In other words, viruses that are already on your computer before the installation of an antivirus program will not be detected.

The best antivirus software uses both techniques described and complements them with verifiers and heuristic analysis. A verifier program performs an in-depth analysis of any detected virus code, to determine if it is a virus. A heuristic analysis, on the other hand, will detect or confirm the existence of the virus by looking for the symptoms or behavioral characteristics of the virus on your computer. Without these complementary techniques, a virus can escape detection.

They Do Not Fully Protect

Having an antivirus program with multiple detection methods is not enough. To avoid viruses, Microsoft Security recommends placing an Internet firewall as well. A firewall is generally a program that blocks hackers, viruses, and spyware from the Internet before they enter your computer. You can also use hardware - such as a router - to harden the firewall, especially if you use more than one personal computer to access the Internet, or if you have a small network of computers.

Slow Down Your Pc or Network

Installing and running antivirus software can use up a large amount of computer memory and hard drive space, slowing down your PC. StoreTech Systems Inc. mentions that this is true even for protecting servers and a computer network. Depending on how the personnel of an information management (MIS) or information technology (IT) company establishes virus scanning and protection, the scanning process may cause a delay in-network service for individual use of the devices. employees.

Conflicts

Since they are not equally effective, you may be tempted to install more than one antivirus program. Be careful, because as the Symantec site says: these programs can actually conflict with each other and cause them to not work properly. You will need to double-check for potential conflicts before purchasing a secondary program.

Do You Know What is Spyware and How Does It Work | Total Security

Spyware is one of the oldest types of malware and continues to be one of the most dangerous. As the name suggests, spyware is a specific type of software that spy on you when you use your computer. It is important to be aware of the possible signs of spyware so that you can recognize the problem and take action. Read on to learn more about what spyware is, what it does, and how you can protect your devices from it.

What is Spyware?

Spyware is a form of malware that infects your devices, monitors your online activity, and collects your personal information without your knowledge or consent. It collects this information in a variety of ways, such as capturing keystrokes, email addresses, web form data, and credit card numbers. Common symptoms include poor system performance, frequently freezing applications, problems with booting your computer, and problems with the Internet connection.

There are different types of spyware such as:

Password Thieves

This type of spyware collects passwords from infected devices. These include passwords stored in web browsers and login information for your computer.

Banking Trojans

Spyware that records credentials from banks and other financial institutions such as brokerage or digital wallets. Trojans detect vulnerabilities in browsers and interfere with web pages and transactions without informing either the user or the organization.

Info Stealers

A type of spyware that scans infected devices for information such as usernames, passwords, browser history, log files, documents, or multimedia files. The software then transfers the information to another server or stores it on your PC where hackers can access it.

Keyloggers

This type of spyware, sometimes called system monitors, logs your computer's activity. It can track keystrokes, sites you visit, search history, and email conversations. He also takes screenshots of your activities frequently. Certain types of keyloggers can also collect information from other connected devices, such as printers.

How Common is Spyware?

Spyware is an extremely common type of cyberattack, although it has declined somewhat in recent years as ransomware and crypto mining have become more prevalent.

One in ten American consumers has experienced a cyber attack on their home computer, although spyware now ranks below ransomware, crypto mining, and other common types of malware.

What Are the Risks?

There are two main risks associated with spyware. The biggest problem is that spyware steals personal information and can put you at risk of identity theft. It can access your browsing history, email accounts and logins for online banking and shopping accounts, and social media accounts. This is more than enough information to steal your identity. If spyware obtains information about your bank or credit card, it can use that information to make purchases in your name or to sell your data to other parties.

In addition, spyware can cause significant damage to your computer and other devices. It can drain your computer's memory and cause it to slow, freeze, crash, or even overheat. Spyware can also alter search results, change your home page and settings, or deliver malicious websites to your browser.

How Spyware Infects Your Computer?

There are many different ways spyware can infect your device. Some of the more common ones are:

Drive-by Downloads

When booting from the disk, a website or pop-up window will automatically download spyware to your device. You may receive a warning stating the name of the software and asking for permission to install it, but in many cases, there is no warning at all.

Download Software

Certain software downloads over the Internet, in particular file sharing applications, can also install spyware on your devices. This is most common with free versions of software that you usually have to buy.

Fake Anti-spyware

In some cases, spyware disguises itself as anti-spyware. These programs assure you that they will detect and remove spyware from your computer. After you run them, you will get a message stating that your computer is clean, when in fact spyware is installed on it. If you try to uninstall the program, the spyware will remain on your computer.

Links or Attachments

Spyware, like most other types of malware, can be sent via a link or email attachment. Never click on an unfamiliar link or attachment or open an email from an unknown sender. This can download and install spyware on your computer. Clicking on malicious links can also infect your device with a worm. These worms are used to spread malicious software across the network to which your device is connected.

Spyware for Mobile Devices

Some types of spyware are designed for mobile devices. This type of spyware infects iPhone and Android devices when you install an application that contains malicious code. Some of these apps are legitimate but have been modified to contain malicious code, others are malicious, and some have fake download links.

What Can I Do if I Find Spyware on My Device?

Spyware can be extremely difficult to detect. Some warning signs include excessive pop-ups, your browser redirecting you spontaneously, and your browser's home page changing. Another common symptom is that your computer is very slow to boot, open programs, or save files.

If you suspect that your device has spyware, it should be removed immediately. You need to purchase a powerful cybersecurity software like total security that has advanced spyware removal capabilities. This type of program removes spyware from your device and restores any changed files or settings.

After removing the spyware, contact your bank, credit card company, and other financial institutions to warn them that your account might be compromised. In these cases, you may need to request a new bank account or credit card number. In some cases, you may also need to contact law enforcement.

How Can I Prevent Spyware?

If you have a device that connects to the Internet, there is always the risk of spyware and other types of malware. However, there are a number of steps you can take to reduce the risk of spyware on your device. Here are some ways to protect your devices from spyware:

Use Anti-spyware

There are many anti-spyware programs on the market that scan your computer and detect any spyware. However, it is important to make sure that you have purchased your anti-spyware program from a reputable internet security provider. Sometimes spyware disguises itself as anti-spyware, so it's important to use a trusted provider. After you have purchased the program, be sure to update it regularly for maximum efficiency.

Set Up Your Browser Security

Many browsers allow you to adjust security settings from low to high. Find out what options are available for your specific browser. Some browsers may even act as a firewall against the installation of cookies and unwanted operations.

Don't Trust Pop-ups

Often, ads and offers that appear in pop-up windows may contain viruses or spyware. Some of these pop-ups claim to have a virus on your computer or claim to be an extension to improve your online experience. Don't click "Agree" or "OK" to close the pop-up window, always click on the red "X" instead.

Internet Security Practice

As with other types of malware, spyware often comes in the form of a link or attachment. Beware of emails from unknown senders and never click on links or attachments if you don't know what they are.

Conclusion

Spyware is on the decline, although it continues to pose a significant threat to businesses. Spyware is especially dangerous because it can get your confidential information. They can then use that data to steal your identity or incur costly charges on your accounts.

When you use a device that connects to the Internet, there is always a risk of malware. However, by taking the necessary precautions, you can protect yourself and your devices from spyware.

Prevent Cryptocurrency Mining Malware With Total Security

Ransomware, the flagship of malware, has for years spread terror and fear among businesses and users of the threat of data loss. Now, in 2020, Ransomware faces serious competition at the top of the cybercrime food chain .... cryptocurrency mining malware. According to Comodo Cybersecurity Threat Research Labs, crypto-based attacks have become the number one security threat for 2020 to date.

What is Cryptocurrency Mining Malware?

Cryptomining, cryptocurrency encryption malware, or Cyptojacking, terms so new that they have not yet been added to online spellcheckers, are forms of malware that hijack a computer's resources and use them to mine cryptocurrency, like Bitcoin, without the user's permission. . Since mining cryptocurrency is a fairly large task on a PC or server, cryptocurrency mining malware has caught the attention of hackers and data, thieves, by harnessing the processing power of several devices at the same time. Essentially, its malware that creates an army of blindly crypto mining machines is auctioned off from their cybercriminal overlord.

In the first three months of 2020, Comodo said it detected 28.9 million crypto miner incidents out of a total of 300 million malware incidents.

Although Bitcoin is the most popular and well-known form of cryptocurrency, hackers target other types of online currency, such as Monero and Dogecoin. In fact, there are currently over 1,600 forms of cryptocurrencies, with more likely to come in the next few years, meaning this form of malware and illegal activity may be here to stay.

When it comes to devising type, virtually everything is at risk, including servers, computers, mobile devices, and devices connected to the Internet of Things (IoT). Also, as the competition between hackers is expected to accelerate, they will start to focus on high-end devices with more computing power to maximize their investment time.

Why is Cryptocurrency Mining Malware Beating Ransomware?

Cryptocurrency mining malware is gaining ground over ransomware as a means of blocking Bitcoin as it can go undetected for months or even years on a user's system, while ransomware immediately reveals its presence. to the user. Additionally, ransomware attacks are generally considered to be risky, as users can choose to sacrifice their data or restore a recent backup instead of forcing electronic cash. Cryptocurrency mining malware, however, when scattered across thousands of different devices, can generate millions in cryptocurrency.

Additionally, since ransomware has dominated the news over the past few years, many companies have stepped up their ransomware security practices, making it harder for cybercriminals to earn digital coins with common ransomware attacks. This has prompted hackers to seek out new, more profitable methods of deploying their skills.

How Do I Know if I Have Been Infected With Cryptocurrency Mining Malware?

Since this is a somewhat emerging threat, it might be a good idea to take a look if you've been a victim of this type of malware before. Here are some ways to check:

• Monitor devices for high CPU usage
• Install a network monitoring solution
• Remind employees to notify IT if their devices are running slower than usual

Why should I care?

This threat represents another potential exploit in your systems and it also encourages attackers to re-prioritize to achieve stealth and persistence for extended periods of time. Although at first, it is not as damaging and time-consuming as ransomware, cryptocurrency mining malware can cause your computer resources to increase significantly and in some cases render them unusable and even increase your costs. electricity costs. Good security hygiene can help minimize the risk of your organization falling victim to these types of attacks, and you should continue to invest in security awareness training and an advanced antivirus like Protegent360's Total Security and anti-malware solution. Also, don't forget the basics.

Cloud Antivirus Versus Traditional Antivirus

Cloud Antivirus Vs. Traditional Antivirus

When we talk about cloud antivirus or cloud antivirus, many people may have certain doubts regarding their operation and if they are a good solution to protect their data. Reality shows once again that antivirus in the cloud has established themselves as a way to protect our data more and more secure, often serving as redundancy for our antivirus PC, or even an alternative.

What are the advantages of antivirus in the cloud compared to other software solutions to install on our desktop? Is a program in the cloud safer than a computer antivirus? Let's enter this interesting debate with some compelling reasons.

Cloud Antivirus Versus Traditional Antivirus

To clarify the concept, antivirus as a service is installed on a remote server, but thanks to our Internet connection it protects all our equipment, as well as our activity when browsing online. Panda Cloud, Bit Defender, and Protegent360 have developed cloud solutions for companies that are very useful when it comes to protecting multiple terminals in a company.

On the other hand, the traditional antivirus is the one we all know; You download it, install it on your computer and it starts working.

It must be said in favor of cloud antivirus that allows you to make your computer not go so slow. They free up your CPU from antivirus activity, and you don't have to constantly install updates. If you have the problem that the antivirus slows down your computer a lot, the best solution is to have your antivirus hosted on an external server.

Cloud antivirus is the most appropriate option to protect your email and all the online programs you use, although most cloud management software already has the necessary security systems on their servers. In addition, following good practices in online security, such as setting difficult passwords and avoiding downloading suspicious files and programs from unknown manufacturers.

Proponents of traditional antivirus believe that the danger of cloud antivirus software is that if malware affects your Internet connection, your computer will be left unprotected. However, it must be remembered that the vast majority of computer viruses enter through the Internet, so the cloud antivirus would stop it before it cut the connection.

A different question is whether or not we are using a good antivirus, since the fact that it is cloud does not mean that the software will be better. However, generally, the most advanced antivirus has a cloud version and is much more modern and efficient.

The experts on online security advise combining antivirus cloud with which we installed on the computer itself, using the traditional version as a backup for the hypothetical case that the Internet connection was cut. However, it should be remembered that surfing the web responsibly and following the best computer practices is the most effective way to prevent the entry of any computer virus.

5 Reasons Why the Performance of Your PC is Very Slow.

When buying a new PC, or just after formatting it, we can see how luxurious the computer is. Everything opens fast, everything runs instantly, and is a pleasure to use. But as the months go by, it suddenly becomes harder for you to start up, it takes forever to load your desktop or use it to surf the Internet is a tedious task because of how extremely slow it goes. Is something wrong? Well yes, of course, but it can be from a virus that is annoying us to a simple problem of having the hard disk full of things. We are going to check  5 reasons why the performance of your PC is very slow and how to fix it.

Scenario 1: Reboot

We open with one of the simplest. Does the PC go to four frames per second in every action it performs? Well, save what you are doing and restart it, because with this simple action it may already work well again and the Internet goes at a decent speed. Why? Well, simply because perhaps the memory was very saturated with parallel processes, open programs, and/or heavy applications. In this way, with a simple reboot - not off and on - we erase memory, eliminate resources, and make the operating system load more optimally.

Scenario 2: Too Many Programs at Startup

On a computer, when Windows starts, a variety of programs that are necessary, such as drivers, antivirus, etc., are started along with it. But it may also start a lot of programs that we will not need - especially if the PC is a brand - or that does not have to be loaded as well. Do we need to load Steam, Adobe's manager, Nero Burning to burn discs? No, and that is why we must open the Task Manager in Windows (right-click on the Task Bar or search for it in the search bar), look for the Start tab, and start removing the ones we don't need, although be careful because you can remove some necessary driver.

Scenario 3: Hard Disk Without Free Space

One of the most common reasons for poor performance and extreme slowness of a computer may be that the poor hard disk is up to capacity, with just megabytes of free space and full of disks, series, games (installed and not installed), of programs that we use little or not, of thousands of images ... Of clicks (not to say shit) in general that does not go anywhere. Take a moment to examine everything you have downloaded and installed and what you don't use just delete it, or uninstall it and free up precious space on the HDD. If you want to keep some of everything you accumulate/have downloaded, a large-capacity external hard disk or USB will solve the problem and thus you allow the PC to breathe a little and therefore can process at a higher speed. Even a defrag would do great after lightening it.

Scenario 4: New OS, Old Equipment

Having the latest software and operating system is something that many users love. But if you have a PC with several years, without physically updating any of its components and you have put Windows 10 Anniversary in it, then it is normal that it goes slow. You can try adding more RAM, a Flash technology SSD hard drive, and a newer graphics card. Or go to Settings and reduce the part of the visual effects and transitions that Windows has activated and that make any action or operation look fluid and beautiful, but at the cost of system performance. Open the start menu, type Performance, and click where it says to adjust the appearance and performance of Windows, and there you can remove effects such as maximization - minimization of Windows windows for example.

Scenario 5: Heavy Programs

Panda, Avast, Norton, Google Chrome, are part of the so-called heavy programs since they consume a huge amount of system resources unnecessarily and therefore slow down the computer. Like everything, there are alternatives in the form of programs that consume less. Try removing Norton and installing Protegent as antivirus software, or installing Chrome and trying to navigate with the Opera Browser.

Emergency Measure: Factory Values

Have you tried this and it is still slow? If this is the case or worse, if what you have is a PC full of malware and other malicious content, the most expeditious way to solve it is to reinstall Windows, deleting everything in the process. With this, you will have a clean copy and a PC ready. Yes, it is a pain to have to reinstall all programs and make a backup, but it is better than suffering a slow PC in constant agony. Another option, if you bring it, is to return the equipment to ' Factory settings', which leaves it as if we took it out of the box again and turned it on for the first time.

10 Simple Ways to Protect Your Computer

Fear of being infected by the plagues of the internet is increasingly common. The more technology develops, the more things are done by personal computers, such as paying bills, files with personal information. In this way, it also increases the interest of hackers to break into systems. What must be done to protect the machines is always a question. "If I already have antivirus, why was I still infected?" It is not a program, but a set of activities that allow the PC to be as defended as possible. See 10 practical tips to increase your security.

1)Antivirus

Antivirus may not be solely responsible for computer security, but it is certainly one of the main and first steps for those who want to protect their machine.

It is possible to find good antivirus software - the paid ones that exist in the market are superior to the free ones since they offer wide support. 

2)Firewall

The firewall works, in a way, together with the antivirus. Since he is responsible for expelling what is doubtful before he enters the machine. Once inside (when the firewall fails) you still have the antivirus that will do what it can to eliminate.

3)Antispyware

Antispyware is responsible for performing scans on the computer to try to eliminate spyware from the system - programs left by hackers on your computer to collect your information.

4)Updated Operating

system When the system is out of date it is much easier for hackers to infiltrate the PC. Always keep it updated. Updates can be configured to be performed automatically or even manually - whenever the user wants it.

5)Do Not Access Unknown Links

In e-mails, websites, chat programs, or practically everything you have access to on the internet, it may, at one time or another, have a malicious link. Care and precaution in this situation are essential and directly helps to protect the machine.

6)Do Not Send Personal Data by E-mail

With the password of your e-mail, the hacker has, like you, access to all e-mails that have already been sent or received. Try, as much as possible, not to send your data, such as a bank account password, for example.

7)Unlikely and Different Passwords on Each Website

Placing different passwords on websites is an extremely important step in protecting your accounts. Even if someone finds out your password and login for a particular website, you will not be able to access others with the same digits. If you were unable to protect one account, at least you will be able to preserve the others.

8)Beware of Downloads

Downloads are one of the main reasons for the insertion of pests in machines. Occasionally, when looking for a special program, the site may imply that the download will be made via a link that will lead to viruses. Even if all the steps have been done perfectly, still pay attention to any additional software that the program indicates during installation. Avoid accepting everything during the process. Even if you don't have any malware, additional ones can still decrease the effectiveness of your machine and make it more vulnerable.

9)“.exe” and “.scr” Files

A simple trick, but not always effective, to check if the link contains viruses is to hover over it (without clicking) and check - in the lower-left corner the browser status bar - where you will be taken if you click on it. If it is a ".exe" it means that it is an executable, that is, a program, probably, and not a website. So, the possibility of being malware is very great. The ".scr" usually refers to screen savers, which often confuse the user. Avoid, whenever possible, clicking on the links that appear with such extensions.

10)Trusted Sites

It is common, especially when using search engines, to be directed to unknown shopping sites, to watch videos, or other actions. Some users have enough malice to be able to operate on such sites without acquiring viruses, but for laymen to avoid such pages, at least in the beginning, it is essential.

How to Recognize a Phishing Email? How to Respond to It?

When people work a lot, often go to meetings, and correspond with clients all the time, they get used to quickly review messages without going into details. At the same time, not everyone is well aware of the latest cyber threats and cannot immediately recognize them. In fact, these employees are ideal victims of phishing. Without noticing that the letter is malicious, the victim can give cybercriminals access to the corporate network and confidential information. By going to a phishing site, through carelessness, a person can lose a decent amount.

Successful phishing attacks can be very costly for a company. They put important data at risk, which may include private customer data, which can seriously damage your reputation.

It is important for employees to understand how phishing works, to be able to recognize phishing emails right away and to know what to do if they encounter it.

How Are Phishing Emails Spread?

Most phishing scams are targeted at a specific company. It is much easier for cybercriminals to gain access to valuable information through employees than to hack into the system on their own.

The success of a phishing campaign depends on three factors:

• The sender of the letter must inspire confidence
• The letter must contain reliable facts
• The request in the letter should be logical, addressed to a specific person

Attackers carefully prepare for their attacks: these are not random mailings. Cybercriminals study information about the company and its employees so that the letter does not raise any suspicions. Often, phishing emails are sent not to ordinary employees, but to managers who have access to more information. As a rule, such letters contain an urgent request that requires immediate action from the manager.

What Should Alert Employees?

There are some hint signs in emails that you need to check. If an email contains several such signs, it is most likely a phishing email. Pay attention to the following factors:

• Did this letter come from someone with whom you correspond frequently?
• Did you expect to receive letters on this topic from this employee? (If accounting regularly reminds you of invoicing a client and then unexpectedly asks for something completely different, it's best to check it out)
• Is there an urgent request in the letter that requires immediate action?
• Is this a standard request or an unusual one?
• Is the writing style consistent with the normal sender's style?
• Does the letter match your corporate style?
• Have your colleagues received similar emails?
• Hover over the link to see what it shows - it could be a fake link or a suspicious URL shortening

If something confuses you about an email, check the sender's email address. For example, you may see that the sender's name is familiar to you, but the email address is not his.

How to Respond to a Suspicious Email?

If you are sure that the email you received is a phishing email, do not open attachments, follow the links in the email, or reply to it. Needless to say, you can send passwords or credentials by mail.

Forward the letter to IT or security. If your company doesn't have them, tell your management about it. It is important to warn the rest of the employees: it is possible that attackers will send similar letters to other employees.

Company security does not begin or end with an information security expert or IT department. Cybercriminals often target the weakest link - the frontline employee. Therefore, everyone needs to be aware of the latest threats and tactics that cybercriminals use to keep the company safe. Also, the device should be well protected with complete security software.

Most Common Ways to Get Infected by Viruses

Infect a Computer

There are dozens of ways that a computer can become infected with spyware, viruses, and/or malware. Below is a list of ways your computer devices can get infected. The list is made starting with the most common.

1) Accept Without Reading

One of the most common ways of infecting a computer is when a user accepts what he sees on the screen without reading the message before continuing. For example:

While browsing the Internet, an advertisement or window occurs saying that your computer is infected or that it needs a plug-in. Without fully understanding what you are receiving, you accept the notice.

When installing or updating a program, you are prompted (often the checkboxes are already checked) to install additional programs that you may not want or are designed to monitor the use of the program.

Tip: When installing a program, you are given the options between automatic and custom installation. If you are installing something from the internet, it is best to do a custom install to ensure nothing is added or changed during the installation.

2) Download Any Infected Software

When downloading any software (programs, utilities, games, updates, demos, etc.) from the Internet, be sure to download the software from a reliable source. Ensure the running of your downloads through your antivirus and spyware scanners upon completion. During the installation process, read all the instructions on what program you are installing.

Tip: You can help yourself to verify if a website is trustworthy using tools like WOT.

3) Open Email Attachments

As a general rule of thumb, don't open emails you didn't expect to receive. Devices can become infected when users open email attachments that contain malicious code. Even if the message is from a coworker, friend, or family member, always be careful before opening a link or downloading an attachment.

4) Insert or Connect an Infected USB, Disk, or Drive

Any disk, drive, or USB plugged in or inserted into your computer may be infected with a virus. A common tactic used by hackers to gain access to a network is leaving behind a USB drive with malicious code. Then when a user places the USB stick in their computer, they get infected with a virus or Trojan horse.

Note: This exact rule applies to any network drive. If another computer has access to yours or to a drive accessible from it, a virus can move between computers and other devices on a network.

5) Visit Unknown Links

If a malicious person has designed a website, they could give you access, send malicious files, or obtain confidential information about you. You always have to be careful and distrust any link that comes to you by chat, email, or SMS.

Note: a commonly used phishing tactic is to make a link or page appear legitimate so that you give out data, but it actually redirects you to where the hacker wants.

6) Do Not Perform Updates

Many of the updates, especially those associated with Microsoft Windows, are security-oriented. Always keep your operating system and your programs updated. Add-ons associated with your browser can also contain security vulnerabilities. To make sure you have the latest versions, you can run the 'Computer Hope' tool to check the installed plugins and their versions.

7) Pirating Software, Music, or Movies

If you or someone who uses your computer participates in service to exchange copyrighted music, movies, or software, you may be at risk. Sometimes these files and programs contain viruses, spyware, Trojans, or malicious software in addition to what you think you are downloading.

8) Not Having Antivirus

If you are operating with a computer that has Microsoft Windows, it is recommended that you have some type of antivirus, antispyware, or malware protection. This software can remove any existing viruses and spyware, as well as help prevent future infections.