Every day, people are falling victim to new kinds of malware that hackers are continuously releasing onto the web in new ways. Hackers are technologically savvy and use their skills to sneak in the malware on to users’ computers. While hackers are sneaky, users are unprepared for these attacks and take the bait and invite the malware into their digital devices. The severity of the damage depends on the type of PC malware, so your device might be in big trouble or it could just be a hiccup. But there is no malware that is free of harm which is why these threats need to be taken seriously. Below, we reveal the 5 most common ways that malware can infect your PC.
1. Fake Download Icons
If you are a seasoned internet user, you have downloaded software from a website. Some web pages have multiple options to download; and this is where a malware threat can occur. If you click on the wrong download button, it will install a software designed to spread PC malware. This is the most common way that malware threats take effect on a PC which is why the safest way to download software is from official websites.
2. Spam
This type of malware is sent through a user’s email. The hackers send spam mail with a malicious file attached to different accounts. If a user is unprotected or not careful with their email, they might open and download the malicious file and the malware will infect their PC.
3. Permission to Bypass Firewall
Once in a while, you will encounter a software on the web that will ask you to disable firewall and antivirus in order for them to download. Usually the download is in the form of a free game, music player, movies, etc. Never forget that this will instantly clear the way for threatening malware to enter your computer, which is why it is advised to never download anything that requests permission to disable your protection.
4. Auto-Downloads
In most cases, whenever something automatically downloads without your request, it is usually malware. Get rid of these and clear your downloads frequently to avoid problems.
5. Links
You will see this mostly in social media via messenger or in a post. An overly-enticing, seemingly impossible link is sent to you and you click on it without a second though. This action is an open invitation to malware infection. Not only can you lose control of your social media, but your PC will become destructive. It is vitally important to know exactly what you are clicking on every time you open a new link.