Why Can’t We Stop the Viruses?
Ever wonder why your computer keeps getting infected? The reason viruses and spyware are so common is because these are the tools used by online criminal organizations to steal millions of dollars from people like you.
One of the most common ways of getting infected is through compromised websites. A recent study shows that the number of infectious websites increased by 111% between the years 2008 and 2010. Nearly 80% of those were legitimate websites that got hacked by criminals. This means that even if you avoid disreputable websites you are still in danger. Cybercriminals like to get popular websites infected because they come up on top of Google search results. Facebook and Twitter aren’t safe either because malicious links are often posted there (to be safe, avoid clicking on a link unless you’re absolutely sure it points to a secure website – a good program to help with this is Web of Trust).
Just one click on a bad link is all it takes. When you land on an infected website it scans your computer for vulnerabilities. If you computer is unsecure or unpatched then the virus or spyware takes the opportunity to install itself and take control of your computer. Once it’s infected your computer becomes a botnet and is remotely controlled to infect more websites, send emails, and propagate infections across your home or business network.
Anti-virus software helps protect you from virus infections but unfortunately it can’t keep up with the newly created ones released every day. One of the best ways to avoid getting infected is to keep your computer up to date with Windows updates and software updates. The most common software that should be updated is Adobe Reader, Adobe Flash, and Java. This kind of software often asks you if you want to update – don’t ignore these prompts! The safest way to update them is to go directly to their web pages and get them there.
If you’re a Mac or a Linux user then you’re not as vulnerable. However, cybercriminals are now beginning to target Macs as they become more popular. And now that smartphones are being used for online banking they will also be targeted.
This all sounds very alarming but don’t lose sleep over it. Be cautious on the internet, try to minimize your online banking activity, and use credit cards whenever possible (they’re better protected against fraud than debit cards are). And keep an eye on your monthly statements to see if anything fishy is going on with your funds. We recommend you download our 13 Point Guide on How to Avoid Spyware and Viruses. I personally follow the advice listed in this guide and haven’t been infected in years.
If you really want to be safe we recommend you buy yourself a cheap Linux laptop and use it for online banking. We can also install Linux on a Windows system so that you can use the two operating systems interchangeably.
If you suspect your computer is infected use a program like SUPERAntiSpyware or Malwarebytes to clean your system. If you’re still not sure that you’re totally clean, call us and we’ll clean your system and install software that will help you avoid getting infected again.