How to Speed up your PC - Protection against Malware and Viruses – DIY in 5 Ep 93

What is Malware?
Malware is portmanteau of “malicious software” and the term is used to describe software that causes harm to your system in a whole variety of ways. You can think of it like the flu for your phone or PC. The havoc they cause will range quite a bit but its overall goal is to disable, damage or take control of parts of your system. Malware is typically crafted to make money off you and your machine somehow -- it could be stealing your data, spying on your activity, or hijacking your core computer functions to do work for them.

Signs of malware attacks
Some signs that your machine may be infected with malware include, but are certainly not limited to, a suddenly slowed system. A bunch of annoying icons or programs, that you definitely did not see there before, may appear. It may cause crashes, freezes, or throw up the terrifying Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) on Windows. New toolbars or plugins could appear on your homepage or in your browser navigation, or it could completely bork your anti-virus software. Sometimes you might even be unlucky enough to get hit with ransomware which will tell you to your face that it has your data locked down and demands you to pay a ransom to return access to your files. Viruses, Worms, Trojans, Botnets, Rootkits, Spyware, and crypto-miners are just some of the litany of different malware out there.

Protecting yourself against malware
How can you prevent malware attacks from happening? What’s the proverbial flu shot?

Step One: Be vigilant! You’ve probably heard not to open shady attachments in emails or download software from third-party sites, and this is great advice -- always stick to downloads from a trusted site and pay attention to the permissions and watch out for those extra pages trying to add-on downloads. Don’t click on questionable links -- anything with a funny ending like .biz or from an unknown source, could be dangerous. Make sure your software and operating system is patched and up to date as often as possible.

Step Two: Arm yourself with protective tools! Firewalls, anti-virus software, and anti-malware software are a few examples of tools that can help you remain malware free. These programs usually help by either scanning and removing anything questionable they detect on your system, blocking infection in real time -- or both. As an additional benefit, you’ll want to find something easy to install that has a low impact on your device. Something that slows you down in an effort to help speed you up is like that friend who comes over to help you get work done and then convinces you to play video games instead.

Third Party Software
Some popular example of protective software out there include Avast, Malwarebytes, and AVG among others. Avast anti-virus and anti-malware boasts a pretty comprehensive suite of protection features completely free and offers some bonus features like auto app updates, extra ransomware protection and advanced firewall features for a monthly subscription. Avast will scan and remove malware as well as offer real-time protection against attacks with low impact on your PC’s performance. Another popular free software is Malwarebytes. The free version will scan and clean an infected device and the premium version for $39.99 a year does that plus real-time prevention. It has features for Windows, Android, Mac, and Chromebook. AVG Antivirus is another option that offers free basic services like stopping malware, blocking malicious links and emails, and the ability to scan your PC. The full version, which includes a license for an unlimited number of devices, also includes enhanced firewall, secure online banking and shopping and includes a special Antivirus Pro for Android.

Built-in OS Solutions
If you don’t want to get third party software, both Mac OS and Windows have gotten hip to the punch and now include more sophisticated security built right into the operating system. MacOS Mojave will auto update, encrypt your data with FileVault 2, prevent malware from changing critical system files and more. Windows 10 also offers auto system updates, Windows Defender Antivirus built in and real-time and ransomware protection.

What type of protective software are you running? Let us know in the comments.

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