Malware (malicious software) remains one of the greatest threats to computer systems and networks. With the vast amount of malware out there, it is essential for users to take precautions in order to best protect their system from attack. The following are methods and practices that can help guard against malware:
1. Enable Firewall: Firewalls act as gatekeepers, allowing and blocking traffic to a network or device. Having a firewall enabled will safeguard against both known and unknown malicious programs attempting to enter into the system. Each system should be equipped with a firewall, whether hardware- or software-based.
2. Keep Operating System and Applications Up-to-Date: To ensure system security, all applications, tools, and operating systems should be kept up-to-date, with the latest patches, security fixes and updates applied regularly. These updates incorporate new bug fixes or security measures that were not available in older versions.
3. Install Anti-Malware Software: Anti-malware software, like antivirus and antispyware programs, detects and eliminates malware from systems. Anti-malware solutions are essential for detecting viruses, worms, Trojans, spyware, rootkits, adware and more.
4. Avoid Unsafe Websites and Links: Unsafe websites can contain malicious code or prompt users to download potentially harmful software. As such, it is important to avoid these untrustworthy sites and only click on links from sources you trust.
5. Use Secure Passwords: Passwords are often the first line of defense against malicious actors. Passwords should not be easily guessed, and should never be shared with others. If a user’s password is easy to guess, attackers can gain access to their system and steal personal information or infect it with malware.
6. Backup your Data: Backing up data is a good way to safeguard against user error and malicious attacks. Saving copies of files in addition to the original will give users the ability to restore their system to a prior, clean state after an attack.
7. Monitor Your Computers: Regularly monitoring devices can help detect malware outbreaks before they become widespread. Scanning systems for potential threats, viewing audit logs for suspicious activities, and monitoring network traffic for malicious behaviors can all help alert users to an attack.
8. Educate Employees: Employees are often front-line defense against malware. Providing employees with cybersecurity awareness and training will help them understand the importance of security best practices and how to identify phishing attacks or other malicious activity.
9. Implement Security Policies: A company should have security policies in place to ensure that all systems are secure. Creating and enforcing rules about the use of certain technologies and requiring authentication for access to certain networks can help protect the system.
By implementing the strategies outlined above, users can make their systems less vulnerable to malware attacks. Keeping machines and applications up to date, installing anti-malware software, avoiding unsafe websites, using strong passwords, and ensuring employees have cyberawareness training can all help protect a system from malicious actors. Additionally, regularly backing up data and monitoring devices will help identify a breach before it becomes an issue. Taking these steps can immensely reduce the risk of malicious attack and keep a system safe.