| Malware is a generic term that is used to describe | | | | up buying a new machine. A cynical person might say |
| software that is designed to insinuate itself into your | | | | that it was not my antivirus software's fault and the |
| system without your knowledge or consent. This | | | | machine was probably bad to begin with. I will concede |
| includes viruses, worms, root kits, Trojan horses, | | | | that there is always an outside chance of that, but |
| spyware and adware. I'm not going to define for you | | | | given that this all happened immediately following the |
| here in this space each of these save to say that | | | | infection and my subscription was far from being up |
| once there, this destructive software is able to cause | | | | for renewal, I will always contend that it was the result |
| all kinds of damage. It can cause the mild irritation of | | | | of this product's failure to do its job. Today it is |
| the occasional popups, more sinister problems such as | | | | considered a quality product but I will never |
| hiding important files and utilities, (thereby preventing | | | | recommend it based on that experience. |
| you from easily removing them) all the way to wiping | | | | One of the most important things that you can do to |
| out your hard drive or destroying hardware. | | | | protect yourself is to stay current with your windows |
| I'm sure you've heard the expression 'an ounce of | | | | updates. Many malicious programs are designed to |
| prevention is worth a pound of cure.' It is far easier to | | | | exploit security vulnerabilities and send themselves |
| prevent these insidious infections that to cure them. | | | | without the user's knowledge. Here are a few other |
| Protecting oneself against malware is important | | | | tips: |
| because at the very least it slows down productivity in | | | | - Don't click on any email attachments from sources |
| the workplace. At worst, it can destroy equipment, | | | | you are not 100% sure of. Even if you are confident in |
| requiring extensive repairs and/or replacement which | | | | its source, scan it before opening it. |
| are even more damaging to your bottom line. I'll share | | | | - Don't open any files received via instant messenger |
| an example from my own experience. | | | | without scanning them first and verifying from the |
| I bought a computer early on in my career and was | | | | person who sent it that they actually did. |
| using a popular antivirus product. | | | | - Stay away from peer to peer file sharing networks. |
| One day I was online and my machine started to run | | | | Those networks are flooded with all manner of |
| slow, so I tried all of the normal fixes such as clearing | | | | malware and it only takes one false click to infect your |
| the temp files and defragmenting the hard drive, etc. | | | | machine. |
| This did not help it run any better. I ran a virus scan and | | | | You should install an antivirus solution and keep it up to |
| found many instances of malware. After attempting to | | | | date as well. There are many products out there that |
| clean the system, it actually failed to boot. Turns out | | | | are capable of protecting your machine from these |
| there were bad sectors on the hard drive. I replaced | | | | malicious attacks, some freeware and some retail. I'm |
| the hard drive but still was unable to get the system | | | | not going to promote or denounce any product but |
| up. After checking every conceivable component, I | | | | rather implore you to shop around and do your own |
| found that my memory was also bad and was unable | | | | research or contact an IT professional for guidance. |
| to upgrade the BIOS. As you can well guess, I ended | | | | |