Protect Your Data From Malicious Malware

We are now living in a digital world. It means that we use computers in carrying out different tasks or functions whether on a personal basis or not. Almost all homes are equipped with a computer or laptop and have their own Internet or WiFi connection too. The latter is even considered as a necessity these days and no longer a luxury that it once was before smart technology took over the world.

The use of smartphones and smart gadgets boosts the popularity of the Internet. Aside from that, the centralizing of business and government processes left us with millions to billions of data that needs to be stored properly and can be accessed whenever the need arises. It’s too bad that cyber criminals always find a way to disrupt the world order and cause undue stress among its innocent victims.

Disaster has struck—an unwanted piece of malware took root on your computer. So what's your next step? While the potential damage viruses can cause shouldn't be underestimated, you might be able to get your computer back on its feet without too much difficulty, thanks to an array of helpful tools at your disposal.

We're using the term malware to refer to all kinds of computer nasties, from viruses to ransomware to adware. While each of these threats have their own definitions, the terms are often used interchangeably, and can mean different things to different people. So for simplicity's sake, when we say malware, we mean everything you don't want on your computer, from a virus that tries to delete your files to an adware program that's tracking your web browsing.

(Via: http://www.popsci.com/remove-malware-from-computer)

First and foremost, you must realize that there is a problem and it is pretty obvious too. A warning message will often appear on your screen but there are instances when it does not show at all. Other warning signs to watch out for include crashing applications, lots of pop-ups showing on your browser, and a crawling system.

The basic idea behind ransomware is simple: A criminal hacks into your computer, scrambles your files with unbreakable encryption, and then demands that you pay for the encryption key needed to unscramble the files. If you have important files on your computer, you might be willing to pay a lot to avoid losing them.

Ransomware schemes have become a lot more effective since the invention of Bitcoin in 2009. Conventional payment networks like Visa and Mastercard make it difficult to accept payments without revealing your identity. Bitcoin makes that a lot easier. So the past four years have seen a surge in ransomware schemes striking unsuspecting PC users.

Some ransomware schemes are so sophisticated that they even invest in customer service, helping victims who want to pay their ransoms navigate the complexities of obtaining bitcoins and making bitcoin payments.

(Via: https://www.vox.com/new-money/2017/5/12/15632482/ransomware-explained)

To protect your PC from ransomware attacks, it is a must to conduct regular checkups. Remember that hackers can only encrypt and steal files saved on your PC, so setting up a backup can save you from a headache caused by such an attack. The only unfortunate thing about this is that most individuals and businesses don’t have a backup plan in place, so they are easily victimized by cyber criminals. Also, it seems that the computers affected were Windows PC because of vulnerability in Windows that wasn’t yet discovered before.

Malware is indeed a cause of concern for computer users. However, there is actually more common computer issues that are just as stressful yet don’t usually get the attention it deserves. For instance, hard drive problems are quite common than we would like to admit and everyone is vulnerable to it. If you also don’t backup your files, on say, an external hard drive, you might lose all data saved on your hard drive once it fails. If your hard drive is failing and you need it fixed right away, http://www.harddriverecovery.org/repair-hard-drive.html can help you fix that hard drive and help retrieve all your precious data for you. Meanwhile, if you are still using an old Windows XP or Vista computer, you may likewise encounter a disk read error, this article http://www.harddriverecovery.org/errors/disk_read_error.html can give you tips on how to address this issue. We also offer our expert assistance for a professional service that won’t break the bank.

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