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A History of Virus Detection:

There are around a million different malware threats released online every single day. How does one keep up with such numbers? Ever since the dawn of the computer, we have had to deal with unethical individuals who like to create nasty viruses to wreak havoc on others. It may not be a new issue, but the craftiness and severity of these infections have only gotten worse over the years as newer technologies are being made available to the public. Anyone with a little know-how and the ability to follow instructions found online can deploy a nasty computer infection. There are three commonly known detection methods for infections known as signature-based, behavioral, and cloud-based. It is a constant uphill battle defending against known viruses and new ones alike, making this a monumental task to tackle.

Signature-Based Detection:

The most common method for detecting infections is known as signature-based protection. This type of detection tool has its own set of known infection databases, but these always need to stay up to date on the user side to be effective. Every threat that is identified gets its own signature that gets added to the hundreds of millions of other known threats listed on an online database. These databases contain only known threats and cannot identify any unknown or new threats, which is one of the significant downsides to this prevention method. The attackers are continually changing the signature of their infections, making it more difficult to stop that same infection from spreading to other devices.

Behavioral Detection:

Behavioral detection is a method that is dynamic in the sense that it continually watches the actions of the installed programs for any odd behaviors. Some of those behaviors might include forcing the offending program to start up with the computer, disabling security features or watching user keystrokes. Behavioral detection is becoming more of the dominant method as it has a much higher detection rate than signature-based detection. Since attackers are always altering the signatures for infections, it is much more useful to watch the installed programs for specific actions rather than trying to fight the signatures.

Cloud-Based Detection:

The other detection methods rely heavily on a locally stored database that needs to stay updated from an online source to protect a device adequately. A cloud-based solution for detecting malware does not have to rely on the local device but instead makes use of online sources. Cloud solutions use the locally installed client combined with online sources to keep the device protected. This is the way forward in the world of security. This method relies on databases as well, but the user never has to worry about keeping those databases up to date. Plus, they have protection from all new threats within minutes of the threat being identified. Having access to that kind of near-instant protection means the brand new infections have little to no chance of actually spreading and causing a real problem.

Prevention:

1. Use Strong Passwords:

Let’s start with the basics—your passwords.

The most commonly used passwords in the cyber world are also the worst. As of 2018, the top 3 passwords in use were:

123456

Password

123456789

And people wonder why we have security breaches everywhere?

Keep your data safe by creating unique, complex passwords. The best passwords include a mix of numbers, letters, and symbols and are at least 8 characters long.

While we’re on the topic, avoid using the same username and password combination across multiple sites. If a hacker can access just one site, you’ve left the door wide open to the rest of your data.

2. Keep Everything up to Date:

Another basic step to take is to make sure you have the latest versions of all software installed on your devices.

Why is this so important? Because software updates include features designed to withstand the latest security threats. Microsoft, Oracle, and other makers regularly update their software to eliminate “bugs” that hackers could exploit.

If you’re operating a system from 3 years ago, it’s defenseless against any viruses or malware developed in the interim. Make it a habit to install all new software updates as soon as they become available.

3. Use Antivirus Software:

Next up on our list of how to prevent computer viruses is—no surprise here—antivirus software.

Antivirus software acts as a “vaccine” against virtual viruses. It can identify and eliminate the threat before you were even aware of it.

Microsoft Security Essentials and Avast are both free antivirus programs you can install. There’s also a host of paid options, although experts debate whether the extra cost is really worth it.

4. Use a Firewall:

Using antivirus programs doesn’t automatically mean you have a firewall.

Macs and PCs both come with pre-installed firewall software. Make sure it’s enabled to provide an extra layer of protection from viruses and malware.

5. Install a Popup Blocker:

Many attacks happen through browsers, as you’re going about your daily online routine. Hackers can gain access to your computer from one innocent click on the wrong ad or link.

An ad or popup blocker is essential to protecting your computer’s data. It will prevent any unwanted pages from opening automatically.

Never click on, open, or download anything unless you know exactly who it’s from. This is especially important with emails, which is our next topic.

6. Beware of Email Phishing Scams:

32% of reported security breaches begin with a phishing scam.

These appear in email form under the guise of a legitimate company. The goal is to get you to either enter personal information or click on an infected link that allows access to your computer.

Any legitimate company will have its own domain name for emails. If an email address claims to be from PayPal or Netflix but ends with @gmail.com, it’s a scam.

Other signs include misspellings, poor grammar, and suspicious attachments, buttons, or links. A legitimate company will never invite you via email to log in and provide personal or billing information

Here’s a good rule to live by—if in doubt, don’t click on it!

7. Educate Your Family & Staff:

Most cyber-attacks happen through an innocent action by an uninformed person.

This could be a member of your family, a child, or an employee who isn’t aware of smart internet practices.

If you have any doubts about anyone who uses your computer, take a few moments to teach them the basics. Review a few points from this post, such as not opening emails or clicking on links from unknown sources.

A few moments of education could mean the difference between cyberattack success and failure.

8. Know the Signs of Infection:

Despite your best efforts, computer viruses can still happen.

Do you know how to identify a virus on your computer? Here are a few things to watch for:

Repeated error messages

Unexpected shutdowns

Computer suddenly slows down

Takes too long to shut down or restart

New toolbars you didn’t install

Changes to your homepage

Rapidly draining battery

Any of these signs could mean your computer is infected. If you see more than one of these signs, you almost surely have a virus.

Make sure all your software is updated and then perform a scan. You can also search online forums for users who have similar issues and see how they were able to solve them.

9. Consider Additional Security Features:

At the very least, you should perform weekly or even daily backups of all important data. Store it securely in the cloud or on a separate hard drive.

That way, if you do accidentally get a virus, your vital information won’t be lost or compromised.

For extra protection, you might also consider advanced security measures like endpoint security. This protects not just your computer but your network as a whole.