The term malware is short for malicious software. The more common types of malware include viruses, worms, Trojans, spyware, and adware. The damage inflicted by malware may range from minor annoyances to more serious problems including stealing confidential information, destroying data, and disabling your computer.
It's not really necessary for you to understand the technical differences between these threats. There are literally dozens of different varieties.
Most security software that comes pre-installed on a computer only works for a short time unless you pay a subscription fee to keep it in effect. In any case, security software only protects you against the newest threats if it is kept up-to-date. That's why it is critical to set your security software to update automatically.
Firewalls, anti-virus programs, and anti-malware programs are important elements to protecting your information. However, none of these is guaranteed to protect you from an attack. Combining these technologies with good security habits is the best way to reduce your risk. Some anti-virus programs also contain anti-malware capability. However, given the increasing sophistication of malware programs, it’s best to use two different anti-malware programs in addition to an anti-virus program. Each one looks for slightly different sets of threats, and used together they may offer increased security.
According to a Consumer Reports (CR) article, free programs should adequately protect most computer users from malware. Consider paying for software mostly for convenience and some extra features. The best free package in CR's security software ratings was Avast! Free Antivirus.
Firewalls. A firewall helps to prevent data from entering or leaving your computer without your permission. It helps make you invisible on the internet and blocks communications from unauthorized sources.
Every computer that is connected to the internet should run a firewall at all times. There are two types of firewalls—software and hardware. You can run both simultaneously. In fact, it is a good idea to use both a software and hardware firewall. But never run two software firewalls simultaneously.
Some operating systems have built-in software firewalls. An example of a software firewall is the one built into most Windows operating systems. You should leave the Windows firewall turned on unless you replace it with third-party firewall software. Other software firewalls are supplied by outside vendors, or may be part of a commercial security suite. A software firewall must be properly configured in order to be effective.
Hardware firewalls can be purchased as stand-alone products or may be found in broadband routers having firewall features. A router sits between your modem and your computer or your network. It is hard to hack your computer or a network when it is hidden behind a hardware firewall box. However, it is important to properly configure your router, particularly by changing the default password to one that is difficult to crack. To ensure that your hardware firewall is properly configured, consult the product documentation.
Anti-virus programs. A virus is simply a computer program. It can do anything that any other program you run on your computer can do. A computer virus is a program that spreads by first infecting files or the system areas of a computer and then making copies of itself. While some viruses are harmless, others may damage data files, some may destroy files, and others may just spread to other computers.
Detailed reviews of anti-virus software are available from AV Comparatives, an independent anti-virus software testing organization.
Anti-malware programs. Malware is a broad category of computer threats including spyware and other unwanted programs that may be installed without your knowledge or consent. Spyware can secretly gather your information through your Internet connection without your knowledge. Once spyware is installed, it may deploy numerous files onto your system. Some of these files are so well hidden that they are difficult to find and remove.
Spyware programs may be included with other software you want. When you consent to download a program, such as a music sharing program, you may also be consenting to download spyware. You might not be aware that you agreed to the spyware installation because your consent is buried in an end-user-license agreement (EULA).
Be cautious about clicking on pop-up boxes. Spyware programs may create a pop-up box where you can click “yes” or “no” to a particular question. If you click on either choice your browser may be tricked into thinking you initiated a download of spyware.
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