Some of that misinformation even makes the malware worse, because a lot of it actually makes people take malware lightly. Here are 7 virus myths!
Of the many things that exist in technology, malware is the one that many people catch wrongly. There are quite a lot of myths or information about malware that are actually very wrong, but until now, most people still believe in it.
Some of that misinformation even makes the malware worse, because a lot of it actually makes people take malware lightly. Here are 7 myths about malware and the facts.
1. Viruses are not malware
Viruses are malicious code designed to spread from one system to another by replicating themselves. In the worst case scenario, a virus can not only slow down a device, but it can also damage the data on it.
Many assume that malware is not the same or no more dangerous than a virus when in fact, they are both basically the same. Both have the same goal of harming a device and no matter what type, both malware and viruses should be taken seriously and not trivially.
2. Only suspicious sites contain malware
Relying only on trusted sites is indeed one of the best strategies to stay safe on the internet, but regardless, being vigilant is still number one. Not only suspicious sites, even sites that feel safe can still be used to spread malware.
One of the most commonly used methods is via advertisements which may have no effect when clicked. In fact, it could be that the ads that look safe are malvertising – a cyber-attack technique in which hackers place malicious code on ads that look unsuspecting.
3. MacOS-based devices cannot be infected with malware
Windows-based devices become the main target of malware makers because of the large number of users. However, MacOS-based devices, which are not as many as Windows, are not entirely safe or cannot be infected with malware.
MacOS still has a sizable market that hackers won't just ignore. MacOS itself has effective built-in anti-malware features such as Gatekeeper, XProtect and the Malware Removal Tool (MRT). Even so, it's good to be more vigilant, one of which is by installing an additional antivirus.
4. Smartphone is safe from malware
Every application that enters the application store for mobile devices such as the Google Play Store or the App Store, all of them are checked first to make sure there are no harmful viruses or malware. Therefore, many assume that smartphones are malware-free.
In fact, the way malware enters smartphones is not only through applications, but can also be done in other ways, such as when users visit certain sites. To prevent malware from entering your smartphone, make sure to always download apps from the official store and use an antivirus if necessary.
5. Malware is harmless as long as there is nothing important on the user's device
Many still judge that malware is harmless as long as there is nothing important stored on the user's device. This assumption is certainly wrong because even if there are no important files, malware can still spread and infect other devices. In addition, spyware-type malware can also sneak into the system to monitor user activity.
Spyware can "learn" important information that users share online, such as passwords. After that, the information will be sold to third parties and then be used to break into emails and steal other important information.
6. Firewall is more than enough to ward off malware
Simply put, a firewall has a mission to protect a user's PC or network from outside threats, one of which can block malware from entering the user's device. Although it sounds safe and is more than enough for malware, in fact, additional protection is still needed to maximize the security of a device.
One of the additional protections, of course, is an antivirus where in addition to preventing malware from entering, the antivirus can also remove any malware or viruses that the user is not aware of that has managed to pass through the firewall.
7. Install antivirus = free from malware
There is no single antivirus that can protect user devices from various kinds of malware. Even so, that does not mean installing an antivirus is something in useless. Installing an antivirus on a device is still very important, especially as additional protection for preventing built-in malware.
However, don't rely too much on your antivirus to stop malware. Implement other things like not opening suspicious links, always updating software regularly and avoiding public Wi-Fi as an extra precaution.
That was a review of some of the myths related to malware and the real facts. Hopefully the information above can help you to know more about what malware is and implement preventive measures to prevent it from entering your device.
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