What is malware?
Malware is any software designed to cause damage to a personal computer without the owner’s knowledge. There are many types of malware, but some common examples are computer viruses and those annoying pop up advertisements that get in your way as you browse the internet. While a serious problem for your computer, viruses and other types of malware are a common problem for most people. Our technicians can expertly root out these malicious programs and remove them from your computer.
Types of Malware
- Virus
A computer virus is the most commonly recognized type of malware. Viruses can spread from computer to computer through networks or things like email attachments. They are most often created with the intent to do harmful things such as steal money or data from their host computer.
- Adware
Adware is another common type of malware, and it’s certainly one of the most frustrating. It is frequently used to deliver advertisements to your computer in the form of pop up messages from websites and/or programs. Adware is often combined with spyware to track and steal your information, and for this reason can be a very serious threat to your computer.
- Spyware
Spyware is malware specifically designed to spy on a user’s activity without their knowledge or consent. Sometimes the techniques used to collect data includes monitoring a user’s activity, collecting their keystrokes for things such as passwords and other login information, and more. It is often installed by tricking the user into installing it themselves instead of the software or application they thought they were downloading.
- Ransomware
One of the most malicious types of malware is known as ransomware, and it essentially takes the user’s computer hostage, preventing them from accessing their own files unless a ransom is paid. This is usually done by encrypting the files on the computer so that they are unable to be accessed. It is typically downloaded through file attachments in emails or through other vulnerabilities in the system.
Symptoms of Malware to Watch Out For
Computers that are infected with malware often exhibit symptoms that can give away their presence on the system. If you notice any of the following symptoms you may be dealing with malware:
- Slow computer
- Slow internet
- Pop up advertisements
- Strange files or icons
- Computer making loud noises even when you’re not using it
- Trouble connecting to a network
- Strange programs running on their own
- Emails being sent without your knowledge or consent
If you’ve encountered any of these symptoms of malware, give us a call at 732-914-8324 or schedule an appointment for a virus removal and computer cleanup. Our expert technicians can have your computer cleaned up and back to you in the same day!
