Personal Technology Security: Malware and How it Affect Every Juan

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In my previous post, I mentioned the dangers posed by "malware".  What is "malware" and do we really need to worry about it?

Malware is a portmanteau of "Malicious" and "Software".  it is a piece of computer code that is written specifically to perform malicious actions.  Computer virus, trojan horses, ransomware, keyloggers, etc. are all considered Malware.
Computer, Virus, Trojan, Program

With that in mind, are we all in danger from Malware?  The short answer is a resounding YES.  Can we do anything to protect ourselves from Malware?  Another short answer to this is another resounding YES.

Given this, how do we protect ourselves from the dangers posed by Malware? Preventing damage done by Malware infection can either be simple or complex.  Here are some simple steps from protect ourselves from Malware:
  • Keep your devices updated as much as possible, as soon as possible.  Malware easily penetrate devices (computers, laptops, tablets and cellphones).  Do not begrudge the time and disk space software updates will occupy on your system.  It is a small sacrifice you need to do to protect your system.
  • Do not install applications from dubious sources.  Software piracy is not only a crime but it also opens our gadgets to the risks posed by Malware.  How? Hackers attach/embeds malware to so-called "free" software in order to infect unwary users.
  • Avoid using external storage devices (USB flashdrives, SD cards, external hard disks) from unknown sources.
  • Be careful when you receive unexpected email.  A lot of malware comes as attachments to unsolicited emails.  Phishing attacks also comes in as unsolicited email.
  • To help in protecting your devices from Malware, install a reputable anti-virus application.  Simply installing an anti-virus is not enough though.  It is also important to keep it up to date.
  • Protect our home wi-fi connection with a strong password.  Do not allow untrusted computers, mobile phones and other devices to connect to your home network,  They may carry malware that can infect your devices.

Malware is dangerous but if every Juan knows how to avoid it, the damage it can do may be eliminated or at least minimized.

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