Don’t let a scary viruses and malware ruin your Halloween – or your business.
Halloween is here and if your small business relies heavily on computers, there are few things scarier than viruses and malware. For our readers who may not know, there is a difference between viruses and malware. Malware is the blanket term for any software that gets installed on your computer and performs unauthorized and unwanted tasks. Viruses fall under the category of malware. A virus can replicate itself and spread to other computers and is programmed to perform tasks like deleting files or burning up computer memory. The purpose of malware is to destroy your computer, and this task can be done through adware, spyware, and you guessed it, viruses.
If a virus is just a form of malware, then why do we tend to call almost every malicious program on our computer a virus, when there are so many other forms of malware? The answer lies in a lack of knowledge about malicious software. Thirty years ago when personal computers first started becoming more popular, there was not a lot of information going around regarding malware. During that time there wasn’t a blanket term like ‘malware’ yet. People saw that the programs were behaving similar to human viruses (ability to spread and wreak havoc) so the term was coined. Now that the information technology field has taken off we are significantly more aware of the malicious software programs that are damaging computers.
What does this difference mean for you and your computer? One of the most important reason to know the differences between viruses and malware is because there are different solutions. A virus is a specific subset of malware, so there are programs that can be installed to fit your specific needs. If you’re not sure what type of malware is causing the damage and you install a general anti-virus software, it will either do nothing or just make the situation worse. Another reason to be aware of the difference is that some malware comes in the form of anti-virus software. It all boils down to specifics and knowing that a virus is just a type of malware. Malware programmers take advantage of the fact that most people are not aware of the differences in the types of malicous software. Don’t fall victim to this – educate yourself and be aware of what is going on with your computer.
The truth about viruses and malware can be scary, so call the professionals at trueITpros to help you learn how to best protect your computers!