How well do you present yourself in public? Many guys out there spend their time at hair salons for men to get their proper grooming. They also get their facial hair shaved and a quick shoulder massage as a bonus, and those cap off a relaxing session with their barber. They are then ready to go out to the world looking neat.
On the internet though, you are anonymous, and that is what drives some people to post digital threats. You can be the politest person in forums or chat rooms, but that would not matter. There are people out there who just like to target random people to victimize.
What Kind of Threats are Out There?
Malware can come in different forms. Some are just mere nuisance, and these are not really dangerous, but they can cause you a lot of inconvenience. They may modify your browser’s home page or alter a few settings, but that is about it. These actions are reversible so there is no danger to your files. Consider yourself lucky if this is what you caught on your computer.
What you do not want on your computer are programs that can make a lot of damage to your files. The most familiar ones come in the form of a virus or a worm. The former somehow works its way into your computer and then changing lots of files in your hard drive, while the latter aims to delete many files that it comes across.
What is at Stake?
If you are wondering about the consequences of being infected by malware, that depends on what you use your computer for and what kind of contents are in your storage drives. If your PC is used for your work, then your productivity will be affected. You will need to explain to your superiors why you do not have access to anything, and that will put your reliability in doubt.
Businesses store a lot of sensitive and confidential information. It would be particularly dangerous for them to have a breach as it will leave them and their employees vulnerable to further cyber attacks.
How Do I Defend Myself?
Knowing how malware works is one thing, but it is more important to know how your computer can get infected by them. There are sneaky ways that they can get into your systems, and the most subtle ones are those that you have to look out for. Having security software installed in your PC will help a lot, but altering your behavior will do wonders too.
You should be wary of opening emails and attachments from unknown or unverified sources or files that are being sent through instant messaging apps. Also, when you are surfing the internet, you can check a link by hovering your mouse over it. The browser will display where that will lead you to. If you are unsure of the website it is directing you to, do not click on it anymore.
Watch out for phishing emails too. These do a good job of masquerading as messages from your bank, internet provider, or other well-known establishments. The common approach is them telling you that your password has expired or someone else is trying to access your account, and you will be asked to enter your credentials as a security measure. This is a trap designed to have someone get access to your account.
People are more dependent on computers and the internet these days. It is no surprise because it is an amazing tool that can do almost anything. But you also have to be aware that there are makers of malicious software out there to get you. So keep your eyes peeled and notice the small details, for that will prevent you from becoming a victim of cyber threats.
