How to Detect, Remove and Protect Your PC from Malware

 

 

 

Malware is short for "malicious software." Malware is any kind of unwanted software used or programmed by attackers to disrupt computer operation, gather sensitive information, or gain access to private computer systems.

Malware is installed without your adequate consent. It can appear in the form of code, scripts, active content, and other software.

Malware includes computer viruses, ransomware, worms, trojan horses, rootkits, keyloggers, dialers, spyware, adware, malicious BHOs, rogue security software and other malicious programs; the majority of active malware threats are usually worms or trojans rather than viruses.

 

How did my PC Get Infected ?

 

The following are the most likely reasons why your computer got infected :

 

Your operating system and Web browser's security settings are too lax

You are not following safe Internet surfing and PC practices

Browser plugins can make you even more vulnerable to attack

What’s worse, the browser itself is only as safe as the plugins installed. Flash, Java, and Adobe Reader are the new focus for attackers as they weren’t designed originally with security in mind. When they were created the Internet was a much less dangerous place and features were included that seemed to offer users some great things, but instead have turned out to be far more useful to the malware writers instead.

Downloading and Installing Freeware or Shareware

Small-charge or free software applications may come bundled with spyware, adware, or programs like bProtector. Sometimes adware is attached to free software to enable the developers to cover the overhead involved in created the software. Spyware frequently piggybacks on free software into your computer to damage it and steal valuable private information.

 

Using Peer-to-Peer Software

 

The use of peer-to-peer (P2P) programs or other applications using a shared network exposes your system to the risk of unwittingly downloading infected files, including malicious programs like Trojan.Spy.Websa.A

 

Visiting Questionable Web Sites

 

When you visit sites with dubious or objectionable content, trojans, spyware, and adware, may well be automatically downloaded and installed onto your computer.

Drive-by downloads may also happen by viewing an e-mail message or by clicking on a deceptive pop-up window: by clicking on the window in the mistaken belief that, for instance, an error report from the computer' operating system itself is being acknowledged, or that an innocuous advertisement pop-up is being dismissed.

Hackers use different techniques to obfuscate the malicious code, so that antivirus software is unable to recognize it. The code is executed in hidden iframes, and can go undetected even by experienced users.

 

Detecting Malware

 

You may notice one or all the following symptoms signs that your computer is very likely to be infected

 

Your PC is working very slowly, Web browser freezees  and your Internet connection is extremely slow

New desktop shortcuts have appeared or the home page has changed

Annoying popups keep appearing on your PC

E-mails that you didn't write are being sent from your mailbox

 

How to remove Malware

Use a good Antivirus and Anti-malware program

Try  Exterminate-It!

Exterminate-It found trojans, spyware and viruses that "big name" Antimalware missed

Exterminate It! is free to scan and detect the malware in your system, Malware removal is a paid feature, but they offer also free manual removal details.

 

How to help protect your computer from malware

 

• Keep everything up to date:

update your browsers and plugins, and keep your systems patched. It seems like a nuisance to have to stay on top of this, but that’s far better than finding yourself without a working computer because something nasty got in and took over. Java, Adobe Reader and Flash are the biggest problems right now so especially keep those current as best you can.

• Use a non-administrator account whenever possible

Most operating systems allow you to create multiple user accounts on your computer, so that different users can have different settings. These user accounts can also be set up to have different security settings.
For example, an "admin" (or "administrator") account usually has the ability to install new software, while "limited" or "standard" accounts usually don't have the ability to do so. When doing day-to-day web browsing, you probably don't need to install new software, so we suggest that you use a "limited" or "standard" user account whenever possible. Doing this can help prevent malware from getting installed on your computer and making system-wide changes.

• Use a good Internet Security Suite and I mean a really good one!

 Check out AV-Test. The AV-TEST Institute is a leading international and independent service provider in the fields of IT security and anti-virus research.

• Don't open spam email messages or click links on suspicious websites and avoid websites that offer free software especially free antivirus software.

• Let Norton Safe Web analyze any link  before you click on it

Norton Safe Web is a new reputation service from Symantec . Their servers analyze Web sites to see how they will affect you and your computer.

 

 

Note: Cybercriminals sometimes try to trick you into downloading rogue (fake) security software that claims to protect you against malware. This rogue security software might ask you to pay for a fake product, install malware on your computer, or steal your personal information.