WikiPedia Defines Malware

"As a portmanteau word from the words malicious and software, is software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner's informed consent. The expression is a general term used by computer professionals to mean a variety of forms of hostile, intrusive, or annoying software or program code."

What does that really mean?

   Many of us are more used to the term "Virus" or "Computer Virus", Malware is a step beyond the simple definition of what a virus is and encompasses what is known to maliciously harm a computer under normal usage circumstances during any part of a normal day. What can be worse than your computer slowing down for no practical reason that you know of, but there may be a real reason, outside of your hard drive being over 85% full OR mostly fragmented. <!-- set up links to fragmentation -->

How Safe are you?

   You only go to sites that you know are safe right? You only open email from people you know, correct? Did you know there are little applications all over the Internet? Did you ever click on one of those annoying boxes that popped up? They could have said anything from finding a lost connection from high school to your computer maybe infected with a virus, you clicked on the cancel, but did it cancel it? Chances are it didn't matter what you clicked on, it just wanted to know you were there and surfing the Internet so it could download itself to your computer with maybe another bug or two. Yes this is what can really happen no matter what you click on.

WHAT?! a pop up add infected my computer?!

   It's quite possible and it happens more often than you think.

I have a Virus Program, I am safe.

   Actually you're not. There are literally thousands (1000's) of harmful programs out there that are not classified as virus's to all virus protection programs. Many "MalWare" and some real "Viruses" actually get past several name brand virus protectors very quickly.

Holy Crap, what do I do?

Preventing a virus from spreading on your computer can be easy or complicated, but I'll give you a few steps to follow to help you out.

Online Scanning

   You would think that this is big business, it is, so thats why many Malware or Anti-Virus companies put their products online for you to scan your computer for FREE! This is a big bonus, because you want to have your computer MalWare and Virus FREE, before installing anymore programs or even a MalWare or Virus Scanner. Why? Some Viruses actually have the ability to look like and behave like other viruses or programs and when a virus scanner tries to clean it, it simply replicates itself to another file as a different looking program and lets the found infection be cleaned or quarantined by your scanner. So here are some Top Online Scanners I recommend for you to try, remember these may not find all instances of a top level MalWare or Virus, if you believe you have a serious problem with your computer, you can always give us a call and we'll help you out, for a small fee.

Now What?

   So did you really kill an evening using ALL 3 of those scanners on your computer? If you didn't then I highly recommend you do so before continuing. However if you have then you need to download and install a fairly good MalWare preventive program, such as Windows Defender. Why do I want to install a Microsoft product to help defend my Microsoft OS? Well Microsoft has been taking a beating on MalWare from its consumer base and it CAN be this same user base that can help find and notify Microsoft of Malicious programs. Defender is quite good at catching MalWare and the updates are pretty frequent and get done through the Windows Update program. By installing Defender it will securely download and scan your system for Malware without itself being attacked, in most cases, which is why I had you do ALL the online scanners first. Oh and by the way, you can set it up so it reports all findings back to Microsoft to help improve the product, nice huh?

UPDATE Sept 15, 2009

   Microsoft has released a new FREE tool that includes Windows Defender, it's call Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE). Microsoft's new antimalware solution, Microsoft Security Essentials, is now available for Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7. SoCalCreations has put MSE through its paces and finds an unobtrusive app with a clean interface that protected us in the dark corners of the Internet. It comes only after a very short 3 month beta program, IT's FREE and it's a real-time consumer antimalware solution for fighting viruses, spyware, rootkits, and Trojans. MSE is yet another layer of defense the company is offering to help its customers fight the threats that plague Windows PCs. GET IT TODAY! If you currently have Windows Defender on your computer, remove it first, then instal MSE. SoCalCreations has found it works so well, we have removed our previous corporate anti-virus program in favor of MSE. BEST of all it comes in BOTH 32bit and 64bit versions!
         

Install a GOOD MalWare/Anti-Virus Protector

   Did any of those scanners impress you? If they did you should purchase one, because having a MalWare expert come to your house and clean your system or taking your system in for a cleaning will easily cost you twice as much, just in service. I don't believe I need to mention the hassle of breaking down your system, transporting it and then telling someone on the other side of the counter what is wrong, blindly without it running, then the phone tag game to get updates.....Do I really need to go on? READ What happens when you DON'T have one HERE

Okay, what next?

   TEST IT! I know, now you are going to scream, "Are you Crazy I just cleaned it, why would I want to knowingly attack my system?!" Well we aren't going to really attack your system. All the AntiVirus / MalWare companies got together some time ago and created a way of testing your protection with a program that simulates a virus, without really being a virus. This is now the standard way of testing to make sure your Virus / Malware Protector actually responds, which is what you want. You need to see how it responds in case you ever get a real Virus or MalWare program. Eicar is the website, go HERE and scroll to the bottom of the page (read it if you would like, its very informative and easy to read. Now try to download any of the links at the bottom of the page, remember these aren't real viruses, but it simulates one.

Want to repay me for my article help?

   If you found this guide helpful, in anyway, please consider buying me a beer or two, I like Micro-Brews, I thank you for choosing SoCalCreations Services and I hope everything on your system is working well again, if not please send us an email on our contact page for further help.

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