Malware: the digital world's uninvited party crasher. This mischievous troublemaker sneaks onto your device, often in disguise, only to wreak havoc like an overenthusiastic party guest who's had one too many. Whether it's a virus spreading its digital germs, ransomware holding your precious files hostage, or spyware snooping on your private conversations, malware is the proverbial wet blanket of the cyber soiree.
Malware, short for malicious software, comes in many shapes and sizes, each with its own tactics and goals.
Despite this, they all share one common goal:
T
o disrupt, damage, or compromise your digital life.
BONUS#2: Did you know that hackers look for your information everywhere, including your garbage? Next time you throw away documents, shred them!
Make sure that your PC has antimalware installed (e.g., Avast, MalwareBytes).
And yes, even if you own a Mac, it's a good idea to install antimalware...
Updates are available for a reason: they protect you from new cyber attacks.
Attackers use old software to attack you, so make sure you update your devices as soon as updates are available.
Backup your data...now! You never know when your device is going to kick the can.
Some types of malware cripple devices making them unusable. Backup your data to an external hard drive or cloud service (i.e., OneDrive, Google Drive, iCloud).
In our interconnected world, novel technology could empower just one fanatic, or some weirdo with a mindset of those who now design computer viruses, to trigger some kind of disaster. Indeed, catastrophe could arise simply from technical misadventure - error rather than terror.