3 Myths and Truths Surrounding Computer Malware

From viruses and bugs and worms to phishing scams and hacking, the digital age comes with a lot of convenience but also a lot of risk.

Almost every computer user on earth knows about Malware. From viruses and bugs and worms to phishing scams and hacking, the digital age comes with a lot of convenience but also a lot of risk. However, despite everyone knowing the word malware, not a lot of people have a solid understanding of what it actually is and what it does. Below some of the most common misunderstandings and myths about malware are dispelled.

Software Updates Have Nothing To Do With Computer Security  

If you have ever been annoyed by the seemingly constant barrage of security updates that don’t seem to do anything on your computer or phone, you are not alone. However, what many people don’t understand is that most software manufacturers regularly release updates to address specific security concerns and challenges. An out of date computer is more prone and vulnerable to crashes, security holes, cyber attacks, ransomware, and malware.  

It’s Easy To Tell If Your Computer Is Infected With Malware

This is one of the most damaging myths about malware. Many people think that it is always obvious when your computer is infected, which means that many computers run all sorts of damaging malware with their owners none the wiser. While some malware does obvious damage of visibly slows down a machine, others are designed to run quiety in the background, undetectable unless anti-virus and anti-malware scans are used. In fact, it is estimated that roughly a third of the world’s computers are infected with Malware at any given time.

Macs Are Innately Immune To Malware

While in the early days of Apple, Windows was so universally used and popular that hackers focused all of their nefarious skill on cracking PCs, that is not the case decades later. Today, Apple products are so popular for both personal use and in various creative fields that there has been a huge increase in malware designed to attack Macs. In fact, according to one study, there were five times as many malware attacks on Macs in 2015 then there were in the four years before that combined. These numbers will probably only rise.

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