12 Ways to Reduce the Risks of Malware

12 Ways to Reduce the Risks of Malware

In this article you will learn 12 ways to reduce the risk of acquiring malware on your computer while surfing the Internet.

Malware Basics

Malware is a composition of the words "malicious" and "software" and, simply put, is unwanted software that someone else wants to run on your computer.

Malware encompasses a wide range of damaging conduits such as adware, crimeware (phishing), rootkits, spyware, Trojans, viruses, rogueware, and botnets. Malware is always intrusive, often hostile, and can operate secretly in stealth mode (eg: rootkits) or out in the open with annoying pop-ups and fake system alerts (eg: fake anti-virus warnings).

The bad guys use many tricks to try and get their malware on your computer. This includes methods such as fake anti-virus alerts and software, web browser hijacking, and tricking you into clicking on a web or email link and downloading malware from an unscrupulous website. Malware can also come bundled in software packages from p2p, file sharing, freeware, music files, and warez sites.

Malware authors, affiliates (darkhat), and their supporting companies do not have your best interests at heart. They need Internet connections, quick money, and the ability to spread malware far and wide (botnets) in order to perpetuate ongoing Internet crime schemes.

12 ways to minimize the risk of malware infection

1. Use your head. The Internet is an open community with good guys and bad guys out there. You’d think twice about inviting a stranger into your home , so think twice about what strange software you want to invite onto your computer.
2. Keep your operating system up to date and patched so your computer will be protected against the latest known security vulnerabilities. Windows users can do this automatically by scheduling windows automatic updates
3. Keep your computer applications and plugins up to date too! Use a free software inspector program such as Secunia PSI to scan and detect vulnerabilities in out-dated applications and plug-ins.
4. Always keep your anti-virus, anti-spyware, and anti-malware software current and up to date, and schedule regular scans.
5. Always use Strong Passwords and don’t use the same password for everything!
6. Use link scanners for Internet protection from malicious websites. W.O.T. (Web of Trust) and McAfee SiteAdvisor.
7. Avoid using FTP – Straight FTP is insecure and all files, passwords and anything else can be sniffed. Always use FTPS (FTP over SSL) or SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) encryption instead!
8. Consider using Sandboxie, a smart tool that creates a virtual environment (or sandbox) on your PC isolated from your operating system and is great for application isolation, secure Web browsing, and opening email attachments in isolated space. Consider beta testing Cocoon, a Firefox addon that works off Cocoon's servers so that Internet applications, including malware, never touch your hard drive!
9. Use REAL-time URL scanner such as Finjan, a patented behavior-based inspection technology.
10. While surfing social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Myspace you should also use a Cloud anti-virus solution such as Immunet Protect. This application will not interfere with current anti-virus protection, but will add an extra layer of protection to existing security layers.
11. Never surf the Internet when using a Windows administrator account!
12. Run HIPS [Host Intrusion Prevention System] WinPatrol -- Takes a snapshot of your critical system resources and alerts you to any changes that may occur without your knowledge. WinPatrol was the pioneer in using a heuristic behavioral approach to detecting attacks and violations of your computing environment. Threatfire -- By implementing sophisticated real-time behavioral analysis ThreatFire is able to stop never- before-seen "zero-day" threats solely by detecting their malicious activity.

Stay tuned for more Internet Security Tips coming soon!