Do You Have a Virus Running? You’d Better Go Catch It!

The world of cybersecurity is constantly changing. 230,000 new malware samples are produced every day. It can seem like a daunting challenge to keep up with and monitor your devices for new and adapting malicious software (“malware”). However, there are some basic signs and steps that will help protect your devices and your data from nefarious parties and their hunt for your money and data.

Signs Your Computer May Be Infected with Malware

• Missing or inaccessible files;
• Lack of storage space;
• Unexpected crashing;
• Lengthy or abnormal boot-up times;
• Corrupted email, i.e., if other people are receiving strange emails from you.

How to Protect Your Computer from Malware

• Back up your data. 29% of users HAVE NEVER backed up the data on their computers. One day your hard drive might fail, or you might have a cryptovirus that encrypts all your files. So, it’s best to stay ahead of the game.
• Use anti-virus software, such as Bitdefender, and be sure to keep it up-to-date, and run daily scans.
• Verify any links and attachments within emails before opening them. If you’re unsure about an email’s authenticity and cannot verify its source, delete it!
• Use a STRONG password! The best thing to use is a password manager such as LastPass or Pass Portal. You only have to remember one password to log in and then you can create strong auto-generated passwords for other sites that you use.
• Use an ad blocker, such as AdBlock.
• Patch your computer. Don’t forget about third-party application patching!