You may have a good security system installed on your computer, but you are still vulnerable to a malware attack if you have a habit of downloading items of unknown origin. That funny video or link your grandma forwarded you could make a mess of your hard drive.
Do not trust attachments. You can recognize most shady attachments easily, such as videos claiming to have famous people in compromising positions or information that will make you rich without any effort on your part. One recent malware carrier promises to reveal the last songs of Michael Jackson. Attachments have even become the bane of employers. More and more employers are asking job applicants to paste their cover letter and resume in the body of an e-mail, lest an attachment bring in a virus that strikes the whole company.
To make sure an attachment is clean before you send it, you can upload it to virustotal.com, which runs the file against many different antivirus programs. Click here for more details. If you get an e-mail and want to make sure an attachment is clean, send it to scan@virustotal.com with the word "SCAN" in the subject line. Wait a bit, and they'll send you a diagnosis. Click here for more details. The wait is worth it if they catch any malware.
Watch your Twitter. Online troublemakers have even hopped on the Twitter bandwagon by embedding links in Twitter posts. Since links in Twitter posts often involve tiny URLs, you can't tell which site you're going to when you click. For that reason, think twice, and click only on links from people you actually know. If you are concerned that you won't be able to resist a tantalizing link, install a link-scanning program, like AVG's Link Scanner, which will test the URL and notify you if it is dangerous.
 | How do I get rid of malware, you ask? Malware can drive you crazy, but, if you have a good anti-virus or anti-spyware program, you should be able to get rid of it quickly. |
 | Asking "How do I remove malware from my Mac?" Even though Macs have a reputation for resisting malware, they can still get infected. Certain antivirus programs and preventative measures can help remove the malware and prevent future problems. |
 | What are different kinds of malware? Malware includes viruses, Trojans, worms, bots and adware, and you need to make sure you are adequately protected from all of it. |
What is the definition of malware? The word "malware" means "malicious software," but malware can cause many different types of problems on your computer. |
Wondering "how to stop malware? If malware is a problem for you, you may want to invest in a malware scanning software program, along with an Internet Security suite. |
