Malware and Viruses — The Unseen Hitchhikers

What Malware and Viruses Really Do

Malware is short for “malicious software”. These are programs built to cause a variety of issues, and they all spell trouble. Some will slow your computer down, others spy on what you type and shop for, and some lock your files away and demand a ransom for their safe return.

Most people don’t realise they’ve been infected. It's common for some malware to lie dormant on your computer, while it looks for ways to spread itself to other computers in your home or workplace, and looks for ways to spread to your friends, family and work colleagues via various messenger services.

Little things will start to happen, like the occasional pop-up ad or your computer just running slower, but soon the pop-ups can be everywhere, and the slower performance can become dramatic. You may even experience programs crashing for no apparent reason.

How do Malware and Viruses Get In?

Malware loves an easy target, and there are many, many ways they can find their way onto your computer. Some can slip in through email attachments, fake updates, or downloads from dodgy websites. Sometimes, just clicking a random pop-up can invite malware in.

How to Protect Yourself

These programs spread quietly, so the best way to manage them is to prevent them from gaining access to your computer using two important tools:

• always use a reputable antivirus program and keep it up to date

• use smarter internet habits.

There are a number of anti-malware and virus solutions available, and not all perform their intended job as well as others. Speak with an expert for advice on particular brands, or comment in the box below if you'd like to find out what our recommendations are As a general rule of thumb, any "free" antivirus will be a bad choice (we'll write more about this at another time)

Smarter habits is the single best way to manage malware. Stay with known, reputable websites, don't click on pop-ups, never open email attachments from people you do not know etc.

Keeping Your Tech Clean

The trick to keeping your computer safe from malware and viruses

is to establish a couple of good habits and then maintain them.

• Update your devices regularly. Those updates patch holes that hackers discover and use.

• Install a trusted antivirus program and let it regularly scan automatically.

• Be wary of free downloads, and never click “allow” or “update” unless you know where it came from.

  
  

A little caution goes a long way.

If You’re Infected

If your computer starts acting odd, disconnect it from the internet. Run a full antivirus scan, and if you’re unsure, ask a trusted IT professional for help. The sooner you act, the easier it is to clean things up, and to minimise any harm that may occur.

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Quick Check: Healthy Device Habits

✅ Do:

• Keep your software up to date.

• Use trusted antivirus protection.

• Delete suspicious attachments.

• Ask for tech help if needed

🚫 Don’t:

• Click random pop-ups.

• Download from unknown sites.

• Ignore warnings from your antivirus.