Malware doesn’t just exist on your grandmother’s old computer. It lies throughout the internet and on countless devices, some of which might be in your very own home. Are you a target of malicious parties? Let’s find out.
Don’t Be a Victim
People make certain moves that identify themselves as potential targets. What mistakes are these? Let’s discuss a few common ones and how to avoid them.
Clicking Doubt-Worthy Links
It’s very easy to get caught up with free stuff. You might feel tempted to get that free Minecraft launcher or to register for an account to watch TV shows and movies for free. Clicking links that promise free stuff might land you in hot soup. Before you know it, malware finds itself on your device.
Shortlinks are also an issue. These concatenated links don’t show you where you’re heading. You might be torpedoing straight to a malware source. Here’s a simple solution: use a browser that lets you preview links. That way, you’ll have the final say on whether to click or not.
Using Unknown Flash Storage
You might be feeling lucky one day and pick up a shiny object at a parking lot. Wow, a free USB storage device! Don’t think you’ve won the lottery just yet. Someone might have planted it there for you to find it!
A flash drive might have malware, especially if it belongs to someone else, even your colleague. Before you download files from external storage, run an anti-malware scan on it to guarantee safety. Make sure you disable autoplay, as that might be the cause of your device’s demise.
Using Easy-to-Break Passwords Without Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
By now, you should know the dos and don’ts of password creation, so we won’t bore you with those details. What’s important here is not to use the same passwords over and over again on different platforms. It’s also essential to set up 2FA if possible. It’s an additional one-time password sent as a text or email. Another solution is to use a password management tool that allows you to use one hard-to-crack master passkey.
Connecting to Public Wi-Fi
People always have their guards down when they’re at the airport or their local coffee shop. That’s a huge mistake, especially when it comes to using public Wi-Fi connections. Bad players always monitor these open connections for unsuspecting targets.
Luckily, VPN services can keep you safe. They are secret tunnels that effectively encrypt your connection. That way, you can enjoy free internet without the fear of someone stealing your data.
Leaving Software Updates to the Last Minute
How many programs do you have on your computer? If they alert you to available updates, act immediately. Don’t procrastinate, especially for programs such as your operating system, antivirus software, Microsoft Office, and Java. These software updates might include crucial security patches. In effect, your computer may fall prey to an attack.
Answering Phishing Emails and Messages
Phishing works as a scam because people are naturally trusting. They don’t immediately think that that email from someone claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service is illegitimate. As such, they reply, at times, with personal and sensitive information.
Always make it a point to double-check the sender’s email address. The IRS wouldn’t be emailing you from a Gmail account, would it? And if you’re ever in doubt, locate the organization’s phone number and give it a call for verification.
Downloading Illegitimate Antivirus Software
One day, you’re surfing the internet, checking out some free games. All of a sudden, a popup appears. It says that your PC is in danger of a virus infection. You panic. What do you do? Interestingly, the popup also says that you can install a free antivirus program to remove the infection.
Before you do that, stop and think. Could this be a malicious tactic to get you to install malware? That’s right. Hackers will stop at nothing and will prey on your ignorance. Always install antivirus software from trustworthy sources, such as Kaspersky, Norton, and McAfee, for example.
Be a Smarter Internet User Today
The internet is a wonderful place. However, it’s also a source of malware, viruses, and bad players. Often, it’s people lacking sufficient knowledge who fall victim. The web makes it easy for malicious parties to hide behind a wall and wreak havoc on the unsuspecting.
Therefore, don’t trust everything you see online. It doesn’t take much to perform your due diligence. Checking if someone is legit doesn’t take more than a few seconds. This move is well worth it, considering the headache that comes from an infected device.
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