Archives - Malware

Watch out for free software

Have you ever heard the adage that if you aren’t the customer, you’re the product, well maybe in the setting of a free-to-use platform like Facebook. There may be some truth to this saying. Whether it’s a desktop or mobile app that serves you aggressive ads, or a site that exploits your compute cycles for […]

Keep your eye out for Google Chrome extension malware

Extensions are great for enhancing web browsers, but they can also create security risks. For example, 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 hitch. Extensions may be malicious, though. Try looking for unusual names, obscure […]

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 […]