A type of malware that opens a permanent “back door” into a computer system. Once installed, a rootkit will allow additional viruses to infect a computer as various hackers find the vulnerable computer exposed and compromise it.

A type of software that downloads or displays unwanted ads when a user is online or redirects search requests to certain advertising websites. The term adware is frequently used to describe a form of malware, which presents unwanted advertisements to the user of a computer. The advertisements produced by adware are sometimes in the form […]

If you have a laptop with an optical disc drive that you never use, consider swapping it out for an extra hard drive. Many older PCs and Macs can accommodate this switch, which provides some extra protection in case your main HDD fails or is compromised by malware.

Outdated applications and OSes are magnets for malware, since they often have known vulnerabilities that can only be fixed by upgrading. If you see a new version is available, install it right away. Some platforms, such as Apple iOS, even allow you to automatically schedule security updates so you don’t miss a crucial change.

It’s likely someone has asked for your Wi-Fi password when visiting your home. A more convenient and safer alternative than giving it away is to set up a guest Wi-Fi connection. Guest networks can be left open, plus they isolate their traffic from your main SSID, which can prevent the spread of malware.

A type of malware that infects a computer and restricts access to it until a ransom is paid by the user to unlock it. Even when a victim pays the ransom amount, the stolen files could remain locked or be deleted by the cybercriminal.