Malware is a general term used to describe malicious software
, which has been designed to infiltrate a computer system without the owner knowing about it. It is usually intended to cause operational problems in the infected computer or in some criminal cases to collect personal information such as banking details and passwords.
Most large companies and small businesses can call upon their network support team or outsourced IT specialists to assist them in preventing infections and minimise the need for data recovery services. Most home users can use virus detection software which will provide similar protection for a home network. The nature of malware is such that it is being generated at a rapid rate with new viruses being detected almost hourly. This is why it is important to have up-to-date protection which many antivirus software packages will do for you.
Occasionally however, infections and viruses will infiltrate a computer either through an e-mail attachment or through downloading material from a website which has been designed specifically for the purpose of attacking visitor's computers.
Sometimes, a user will be unaware of the Malware's presence on their computer until the machine has been rebooted. In any case there are some tell-tale signs of an infection which can usually be fixed if you take remedial action as soon as possible. In extreme cases however, a particularly vicious Malware can attack the operating system and cause permanent damage and significant data loss. In these cases professional attention is needed for a complete data recovery but it cannot always be guaranteed that you will regain information has been destroyed.
So, just what can you expect to see if your computer is infected?
You might notice that your homepage has been changed to a new default URL.
Your browser is redirected to an unknown site.
You will receive alerts telling you that your firewall has been turned off.
Pop-up screens tell you that your computer is infected and you need to download remedial software.
Unknown icons appear on your taskbar.
Programs do not load as smoothly as they previously did, and your computer will appear to be much slower.
Your anti-virus software ceases to operate.
Whenever you notice anything strange happening it is important to seek the assistance of a professional service or IT consultant for a complete data recovery, but if you cannot wait then it may be possible to reboot your computer into safe mode and then seek out advice on reliable Internet forums or from your anti-virus software manufacturer's website. You can find it reassuring when you discover that you are not the only one suffering a similar problem and it is quite common for information to start flooding in to forums almost immediately after an infection has been detected. Savvy Internet users will also be on hand to provide suggested remedies, but you should also be wary of advice that suggests purchasing software of any sort. Many unscrupulous sellers will attempt to capitalise on new infections by selling their own products.
The important point to remember is that prevention is better than cure, something your network maintenance crew will no doubt have already advised you!