Malware is any program made to damage or intrude upon a computer system without the owner’s permission. Malware is one of the most significant threats to Internet users, and it can come in the form of a Trojan, adware, spyware or virus. Here, we at BLH Computers will discuss ways to avoid malware infection.
What Malware Does
Malware programs redirect searches, hijack browsers and result in intrusive popup ads. Some programs can track your browsing and search histories, and others can steal personal information such as site passwords, email addresses and credit card numbers. As if that isn’t bad enough, spyware and malware can slow your system and consume a substantial portion of its resources. If you’ve ever wondered why your computer seems to be running slower than normal, malware could be to blame–and that means it’s time for computer repair in Alsip, IL.
How to Handle Malware
The most effective way to deal with malware is to keep it off of your computer entirely. Below are some tips that will help to keep your PC malware-free:
Never open an email attachment if you don’t know the contents or the sender. If you receive an email with an attachment, ask the sender if it was intended for you. If a machine is infected, it can send out malicious emails to everyone in a person’s address book–and the computer’s owner would never know it.
Stay away from file-sharing applications. You’ve probably been told many times–but it bears repeating. Downloading from these sites and with these programs is unsafe, because you can never trust the source.
Don’t use flash drives or disks that others give you, without running a scan first, because the media could be malware-infected.
Besides the points listed above, you should also be wary of popup ads that look like regular notifications. When you click the ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ button, the ad may install mirar and other similar malware on your computer. Mirar is adware that installs browser help objects, disguised as IE toolbars. The adware gathers information on your browsing history, search history and displays targeted ads. Mirar toolbars can install other malware, and slow your Internet speed. There are many programs available online to get rid of Mirar and other malicious software, but those with little computer experience should seek computer repair in Alsip, IL.
