MALWARE, HOW IT WORKS AND HOW TO REMOVE IT

Keywords;

Malware

Software

Computer

Malware is any malicious software designed to destroy a laptop or a computer network. It is commonly used by cybercriminals to extract data from people for financial gain. They also extract data such as financial data, health records, personal emails, and passwords. The crimes have led to the loss of a lot of money from many organizations. There is various Malware such as worms, computer viruses, Trojan horses, spyware, and scareware and rogue software. Malware also affects the program when it secretly acts against the interests of the computer user. In this article, I will explain how Malware works, how to detect and protect it, and how to remove it.

HOW MALWARE WORKS

Malware has found several methods of attacks since its birth more than 30 years ago. Cybercriminals use Malware to get data from the victims. People get tricked into extracting personal data for theft. They steal consumer credit data and infect computers to mine bitcoin. They also assume control of many computers to launch denial of service attacks against other networks. Let’s now discuss the types of Malware and how they work;

1. Trojans horses

This kind of Malware hides and disguises itself as a legitimate software creating backdoors for other malware easy access to the computer. It carries a hidden destructive function that is activated when the application has started.

2. Viruses

Viruses come as an attachment in an email. It produces copies of itself and inserts them in other programs or data, and that destroys data. An example is PE Infection.

3. Spyware

Spyware hides in the background and takes notes on what you do online, including your passwords, credit card numbers, and surfing habits. It is a malware that spies on you.

4. Ransomware

It locks out on users and lockdown networks until some ransom has been paid.it threatens to erase everything, including all the data in your file. It is also known as scareware.

5. Worms

They infect entire networks of devices very quickly using network interfaces. Worms use each consecutively affected machine to infect others.

6. Adware

It pushes unwanted advertisements to users and displays blinking or popup windows when you perform a specific action. Adware installed In exchange for another service.

7. File less Malware

It uses a legitimate program to infect a computer. It makes the laptop challenging to detect and remove the infection since it does not rely on a file or leave no footprints.

There common signs that a computer is affected by the Malware and are;

• If you have a problem with shutting down or starting up your computer
• If your computer has a frequent popup adds
• Infections warnings, frequently asking to buy something to fix them.
• When your web browser takes you to sites you didn’t intend to visit(browser redirects) and
• If your computer has slow performance.

How to protect your device from Malware

With these tips, you will be able to protect your data and accessories from all kinds of Malware.

• Keep your operating systems and applications updated.
• Use a mobile security solution like MacAfee mobile security available for android and iOS.
• Limit the number of apps on your computer. Install the apps that you think you need to use regularly.
• Avoid clicking on a link on a popup. close the message by clicking on “X” in the upper corner
• Beware of emails requesting personal information. It’s a scam ignore them.
• Avoid risky websites, especially those offering free screensavers.
• Be selective on which sites you visit. Some sites may be malicious without knowing.
• Always check on your bank accounts and credit reports.
• Avoid giving out your phone to other people or leaving your device unattended.
• When purchasing security software, always ensure that you get it from a reputable company
• Stick to the official app store.

HOW TO REMOVE MALWARE

Every type of Malware has its way of infecting and damaging computers and data. So each one requires a different malware removal method. The best way to remove the infection is by using an antivirus. The best free antivirus is AVG antivirus free. You can use the following steps to remove Malware;

1. Hold the Shift key,
2. Then restart your computer by opening the Windows menu,
3. Clicking the power icon and clicking Restart. Your computer will restart and display a list with several advanced boot options.
4. Choose Troubleshoot,
5. Choose Advanced Options, and click startup settings,
6. Click Restart, Press 5 to restart in Safe Mode with Networking, but keep your PC disconnected from the internet.

Alternatively, to detect temporary files, go to the start menu, scroll down to widow administrative tools. Click it and choose Disk Cleanup from the drop-down menu. Scroll through the “Files to delete” list, and select Temporary files. Click OK.

Conclusion

The malware industry continues to grow. They are finding ways to access devices unlawful. Computers, tablets, and phones are at risk of getting infected with Malware. Many people and a lot of companies have lost a lot of money through stolen information from cybercriminals. If cybercrimes do not stop soon, many people and companies will be victims of this Malware. So it’s good to keep on checking your data such as financial statements and changing passwords. Malware stands less of a chance in delivering its payloads.