Archives - Malware

Check to see how frequently software vendors produce updates

The more often you update the software on your computer, the better. Programs that haven’t been updated lately are easier for hackers to attack, making your whole system more vulnerable to malware. Before you download software onto your device, check with the vendor to see how often they come out with updates. Big name software […]

Protect your computer with security software

Regularly updating security software can protect your family against scammers, hackers, malware and other online threats that can compromise your computer system and, consequently, your family’s financial security and other private information. Using software security that automatically updates — like our Ultimate Internet Security — keeps your technology current and decreases the likelihood of picking […]

Use a cloud-based solution for backups

While local backups are generally safe, sometimes, malware or ransomware can spread to the backed up files. Additionally, a USB drive or external hard drive could get lost or destroyed, taking all of your files with it. A cloud-based backup solution is an internet service that stores all of your files online, Total Defense internet […]

Test that your backups are working properly

Backing up your data is important, but only if it’s being backed up correctly. If the backups are failing, you won’t be able to retrieve your documents, and you will have taken that precaution in vain. Test that your backups are working every so often by retrieving and opening a file. That way, if you […]

Be wary of of P2P websites

Peer-to-peer (P2P) websites are fraught with risk. To share files, like games and music, through a peer-to-peer (P2P) network, you download software that connects your computer to other computers running the same software – sometimes giving access to millions of computers at a time. This has a number of risks. You could mistakenly download malware, […]

Watch out for Google Chrome extension malware

Extensions can augment web browsers but they can also create security risks. For instance, Google Chrome is probably just another trusted application to your operating system and antivirus software, meaning it – and its extensions – can run code without a problem. Some extensions are malicious, though. Keep your eye out for unusual names, odd […]