8 tips to prevent malware

Learn how to prevent malware with these 8 tips.

Modern malware can be difficult to get rid of, particularly if the infection is deeply rooted. So if you want to avoid having malware issues, focus on preventing them from entering your computer in the first place. This report will introduce 8 ways you can prevent malware.

How to prevent malware

 

Use legal software.

Using legal software that comes from a reputable source is the first step to avoid infecting your computer with something. Users often download pirated software via torrents and other sources, and malware distributors are well aware of that. They add malware to cracked programs, and when users download those programs, they end up infecting their computers. Crack and keygen files are particularly popular ways to spread malware.

Install updates regularly.

By not installing updates, you’re essentially allowing malware to take advantage of all the vulnerabilities on your device. It should be noted that operating system updates not only fix certain system errors or add new features, but also fix security vulnerabilities. It is also suggested to enable automatic updates, as that would ensure all known system vulnerabilities are patched. And it’s not only your operating system that needs updates, all your programs should be regularly updated as well.

Use an anti-virus program.

Without anti-virus software, one wrong move from you could mean stolen data, encrypted files or even money theft. Even if your operating system is up-to-date, you can accidentally expose your computer to malware, and without anti-virus, you wouldn’t even know about the infection. There are various myths about anti-virus programs, such as they slow down the system quite noticeably. However, while that was the case in the past, it’s no longer an issue today. If you are not certain that your computer can deal with a program that requires a bit more resources than other programs, you can test them out to choose the best option. There are free ones, or ones that offer free trials.

Update your antivirus database.

Antivirus vendors release updates almost every day, and this will prevent newly released infections from getting into your computer.

Use firewall.

A properly configured firewall can prevent a malware infection or stop attackers from accessing your system. The main purpose of a firewall is to only allow what’s necessary, and ban everything else. What that means is that you allow certain ports to be used, while prohibit others. Firewall is particularly useful when you’re connected to an unsecure network (such as public Wi-Fi). The public network feature may prevent other network participants from connecting to your device.

Be careful with programs you run.

Your operating system should warn you when you’re about to run an executable file, and you should make sure it’s safe before allowing it to proceed. You should be especially careful with programs/updates you download from the Internet. Oftentimes, malware is pushed as some kind of update, so be careful about where you download your updates from.

Read your antivirus alerts.

When malicious software is detected, your antivirus system will warn you. Read the instructions carefully and execute them correctly.

Back up your data.

Make a copy of all important data, such as photos, documents, videos, etc., and store everything somewhere safe. This way, if malicious software gets into your computer, you won’t lose all of your data.