They can slow your system downĪntivirus scanners aren’t magic. While the security and peace of mind they bring makes using antivirus software a no-brainer, particularly in corporate environments, there are some caveats to be aware of. National Health Service over £70 million worth of damage.
That’s why it’s recommend to store your information in a secure cloud storage vault.įamously, the WannaCry ransomware attack in 2017 cost the U.K. If you don’t give money to the hackers within a certain amount of time, your files – family photos, vital business documents, or whatever else – get permanently deleted.
Also common in recent years is ‘ransomware’, which holds your files hostage. This is commonly also called ‘spyware’, and is used to steal people’s usernames and passwords. Other kinds of malware include keyloggers, which secretly track everything you type and send it off to the hackers who installed it. Viruses are a particular kind of malware, distinguished by the fact that they automatically spread themselves from one computer to the next, much like real-life viruses. It’s illegal in almost every country on Earth, and usually used by hackers to steal data or money from people. Malware, short for ‘malicious software’, is any program that’s made to harm other people’s computers. These terms often get conflated, but it is useful to know the difference.
