Ars Technica Article Covers the Basics on Malware

Ars Technica Article Covers the Basics on Malware

virus malware spyware worm trojan

Protect yourself! Learn about malware.

Viruses, worms, trojans, spyware and malware — what does it all mean? If you’re at all familiar with technology, you’ve probably heard a few of these words dozens of times. But what are they? What’s the difference between them? This lengthy, in depth Ars Technica article covers the basics.

We all try our best to keep our antivirus software up to date while practicing the “tried and true” methods of handling potentially malicious software. For example, you should never click on an email attachment, even if it looks innocuous. The problem is that some malware is very good at looking like perfectly safe file types, such as PDFs, Word documents or pictures, so these things aren’t always obvious (which is why they work so well at being spread like wild fire.)

The best thing you can do is educate yourself. Learn as much as you can about malware, how it works and how it spreads. Learn about the things that viruses can, and can’t, do. This article from Ars Technica is a great start!

Viruses, Trojans, and Worms, Oh My: The basics on malware is the second installment of Ars Technica’s Guide to Online Security, and a good read for anyone who wants to know more about malware and how to protect themselves from it.

From here, you can always look up information on Wikipedia or other security websites and blogs. There’s a wealth of information out there, so take advantage of it! And, if worse comes to worse, you can always give NEPA Geeks a call. We specialize in virus removal and would be more than happy to assist you with any questions you might have.