If you read our IT blogs or newspaper columns, you’ve undoubtedly heard us talk about malware and the devastating effect it can have on your data. Malware is any software that was designed for the sole purpose of disabling your computer and/or computer network. It can be in the form of viruses, web injections, drive-by downloads and more.
In previous articles, we’ve touched upon some of the ways you can increase malware protection for your business by implementing techniques such as web content filtering. In addition, there are steps computer users can take to help protect against malware:
- visit only trusted websites while browsing the internet & avoid untrusted foreign websites (NOTE: Even trusted websites can sometimes get infected with malware)
- do not open unsolicited email
- do not open unsolicited email attachments
- shut down your browser immediately if a website seems suspicious
- avoid clicking on sidebar advertisements OR
- install adblock browser extensions to block ads from appearing
There are many different software solutions to “up” your malware protection*. You are probably familiar with Symantec’s Anti-Virus products such as Endpoint or Norton 360. Symantec has been fighting viruses and malware for years. The problem with these solutions, however, is that they can be a “system hog” and adversely effect your computer’s performance.
Malwarebytes, a program that offers malware protection, has both a free and paid solution. It has been very effective in both removing malware and increasing malware protection but is limited in its offering.
The solution we rely on the most is a managed solution called Vipre. Vipre was developed by network engineers to be very light on computer resources while still giving you robust malware protection, detection and removal technologies. It protects you against thousands of web threats every day without slowing down your computer. There is no yearly commitment like there is with Symantec products. You can opt to sign up monthly, giving you the freedom to cancel at any time and only use what you pay for.
Regardless of the software you choose to help boost your malware protection, it’s just as important to ensure someone is monitoring it for you. This includes ensuring the malware software is up-to-date and working properly as well as taking care of any issues that are found.
By taking these steps, we hope that you will be able to avoid the adverse effects malware can have on your computers and your business.
*As with any recommendations, it’s always best to speak with an IT professional about your particular situation before making changes to your computer or network.
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