Is it a virus or malware?
27 JUNE 12
When the media talks about thousands of computer users falling victim to some unknown nasty, it will often be referred to as a "virus" whether it is true or not.
Here at Optimus Systems we thought it was about time we discuss the differences between viruses and malware, the threats they pose to your computer, and what you can do to stay protected.
VIRUS
In the 90's the term "computer virus" first came into prominence, and the most famous of all was the "ILOVEYOU" virus, which in 2000 made headlines all over the world. The financial damage caused was an estimated US$5.5 billion, making it the most successful virus ever.
Computer viruses in general will try to sneak their way onto the user's computer and make changes to important system files and/or registry settings, making the machine unusable. With the popularity of antivirus software (AV), the effectiveness of the common computer virus has arguably been diminished. Having antivirus software is part of the solution, but it is also important that computers receive regular maintenance to ensure files where viruses and malware typically like to hide are cleaned out. And, it's also important to have malware protection.
MALWARE
The term "malware" hasn't achieved the same level of notoriety as viruses, but that doesn't mean this threat should be taken lightly. Malware is short for "malicious software" which is generally used for making profit, rather than destroying computers or network equipment. Malware comes in many shapes and forms, most of which operate in the background collecting information while the user is unaware. Malware can include the following - spyware, trojan horses, rootkits, keyloggers and ransom malware.
A common example that we often see is the "keylogger" type of malware. The keylogger will install itself onto the user's computer, attempt to create a record of all the passwords the user has on the system, and then use those passwords to empty out that person's bank account.
Recently we have seen an increase in users who have been infected by "ransom" malware. One such example is the Security Shield malware program. The program installs itself onto the users system and claims (and appears) to be a legitimate security software program, telling the user that the computer is infected and that they need to follow the prompts on screen to become secure. Once the user follows the prompts they will be asked to enter their credit cards - and that's when the real damage starts happening.
HOW CAN YOU PROTECT YOURSELF FROM BOTH?
So now you know that malware exists and is different from viruses, what do you need to do to stay protected?
The answer is that you need to ensure you have both antivirus and antimalware protection software, and ideally that it is monitored and managed to alert against any threats.
At Optimus Systems we are able to offer a comprehensive Security Suite that provides both virus and malware protection, all for a small monthly fee. Click here to find out more.
Here at Optimus Systems we thought it was about time we discuss the differences between viruses and malware, the threats they pose to your computer, and what you can do to stay protected.
VIRUS
In the 90's the term "computer virus" first came into prominence, and the most famous of all was the "ILOVEYOU" virus, which in 2000 made headlines all over the world. The financial damage caused was an estimated US$5.5 billion, making it the most successful virus ever.
Computer viruses in general will try to sneak their way onto the user's computer and make changes to important system files and/or registry settings, making the machine unusable. With the popularity of antivirus software (AV), the effectiveness of the common computer virus has arguably been diminished. Having antivirus software is part of the solution, but it is also important that computers receive regular maintenance to ensure files where viruses and malware typically like to hide are cleaned out. And, it's also important to have malware protection.
MALWARE
The term "malware" hasn't achieved the same level of notoriety as viruses, but that doesn't mean this threat should be taken lightly. Malware is short for "malicious software" which is generally used for making profit, rather than destroying computers or network equipment. Malware comes in many shapes and forms, most of which operate in the background collecting information while the user is unaware. Malware can include the following - spyware, trojan horses, rootkits, keyloggers and ransom malware.
A common example that we often see is the "keylogger" type of malware. The keylogger will install itself onto the user's computer, attempt to create a record of all the passwords the user has on the system, and then use those passwords to empty out that person's bank account.
Recently we have seen an increase in users who have been infected by "ransom" malware. One such example is the Security Shield malware program. The program installs itself onto the users system and claims (and appears) to be a legitimate security software program, telling the user that the computer is infected and that they need to follow the prompts on screen to become secure. Once the user follows the prompts they will be asked to enter their credit cards - and that's when the real damage starts happening.
HOW CAN YOU PROTECT YOURSELF FROM BOTH?
So now you know that malware exists and is different from viruses, what do you need to do to stay protected?
The answer is that you need to ensure you have both antivirus and antimalware protection software, and ideally that it is monitored and managed to alert against any threats.
At Optimus Systems we are able to offer a comprehensive Security Suite that provides both virus and malware protection, all for a small monthly fee. Click here to find out more.
