by A W Drake

Created on: March 24, 2010

Malware is a combination of the words malicious and software and is used to describe any code that is designed to do harm to a computer. Malware can include trojans, worms, spyware, and viruses amongst others. The perpetrators of malware now tend to be much more sophisticated than the script kiddies of the early days of the internet who look for ways to acquire people's personal information such as credit card or bank account details. Online fraud is in fact the largest growing sector of criminal activity, making it even more necessary to stop malware on your computer.

If you find your computer is slower than usual, is showing pop-up adverts, you are receiving a lot of spam emails or it is showing other unexpected behavior, it may be infected with malware. The increasing threat from malware however does not mean the average internet user has to simply take their chances. The best form of protection is to be proactive and the following steps will show you how.

+EMAILS +

Your email account is one of the major ways malware can become installed on your computer so it is essential to be extra vigilant when opening emails. Do not open any emails from people you do not know and be sure to ignore and delete any attachments that come with emails.

Emails are a common way internet criminals attempt to gain access to your personal information. One technique is by sending fake emails from your bank asking you to update your details. The email will include a link to a site that emulates your bank's website. Do not follow the link and certainly do not add your personal details to this kind of website. Instead, contact your bank and let them know their website is being copied for fraudulent purposes.

+POP-UP WINDOWS +

Do not respond to the content of pop-up windows. If these windows are offering money making schemes do not be tempted to respond. No one gives money away and there is no such thing as a free meal!

Do not click on any links in pop-up windows that tell you your computer is infected with viruses or trojans. This is a well known scam where the links take you to sites that claim to offer scans of your hard drive, but will infect it with the malware it is supposed to be removing. You may also be charged for these scans.

+KEEP YOUR SYSTEM UPDATED+

Most operating systems offer regular security updates to remove vulnerabilities and it is essential to make sure you install them to keep your computer safe. As well as keeping your operating system up to date any browser you use will

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