Internet Dangers - The Malware Threat
If you use the Internet, it’s very likely some form of malware is already at work on your PC. Spyware can track your online or offline PC activity and may save or transmit those findings to others. Computer viruses can alter the way your computer operates and often cause significant damage to your PC. These unwanted programs are stealthy and often attach to your computer without your knowledge or consent. Hackers can use spyware, viruses or simply attack your PC directly. Protect yourself better by understanding common Internet dangers.
If your credit rating or financial information changes unexpectedly, it may be because of malware installed on your PC without your knowledge. Identity thieves can ruin your credit rating and the standing of other personal information by stealing your passwords, account numbers and Social Security numbers online. Learn how many types of identity theft can be prevented.
Half of all credit card fraud is conducted online. Fraudsters routinely steal account numbers and passwords while you conduct your normal online computing. If your credit card is mysteriously charged your PC may be infected with malware. Learn more about credit card fraud.
Slow PC or frequent computer crashes? Even a small amount of malware on a system can slow down computing and crash your PC because it operates in the background, sapping hard drive resources. Learn more about combating poor PC performance.
Familiar with pop-ups and spam? Harmless enough, right? Don't be fooled. While many pop-ups and emails from reputable companies are safe, the adware programs that generate illegitimate pop-ups are capable of installing spyware to hijack your browser and capture your personal information. Learn more about how pop-ups and spam can be more dangerous than annoying.
Spyware can cause some unexplained PC behavior, especially for your browser. So if things are happening that you did not initiate, you may already be a victim. Some common changes in behavior include: mysterious new toolbars you can’t delete, unexplained changes to homepage settings and suspicious search results. Learn more about how you may lose control of your PC.
The more kids explore online, the more they are at risk from predators and the more they put your PC and privacy at risk. The better educated you are about online risks, the more you will be able to keep your children safe. Understand how to talk to your kids and to better protect them online.
Many things can cause accidental file loss, from computer viruses to hard drive crashes. Computer Industry Almanac estimates that 700 million PCs are in use around the world, and up to 10 percent of them crash every day.