How can you protect your computer against malware and viruses?

Nowadays, there seems to be almost nothing you can't do online: Working, learning, shopping, online banking, playing games, meeting people, etc. The list is endless. While this development brings many benefits, such as greater accessibility and convenience, there are also risks.

We are constantly connected to the internet. These days, everyone has a cell phone that is connected to the internet wherever we are via a cell phone plan from a provider like SALT (https://fiber.salt.ch/de/). We are also usually connected to our Wi-Fi at home, and let's not forget that there are now Wi-Fi hotspots in all kinds of public places. However, an unfortunate side effect of the digitalized world is the increased vulnerability to malware such as computer viruses. That's why, in this article, we're going to look at the measures everyone can take to prevent malware and stay safe.

Malware is a collective term for a variety of malicious software designed to infiltrate digital devices or networks. It is usually aimed at disrupting business operations, damaging or stealing data, stealing money from online accounts, hijacking computers to carry out illegal activities such as the mass sending of spam emails or extorting the owner of the infected system for money.

Malware also includes viruses. This is software that spreads from computer to computer, most commonly via email, messaging services or social media. Viruses have been around for about four decades and are still a major problem in today's internet environment.

Almost all of us have sensitive data on our devices that needs to be protected, whether it's confidential information from work or online banking data. Therefore, it is crucial not to allow hackers and cybercriminals to infiltrate our computers. Here are some precautions users can take to this end:

Installing and updating an anti-malware tool will protect your computer from viruses and other malware. The easiest way is to use Microsoft Defender, a free anti-malware software that comes with Windows and is automatically updated via Windows updates. Of course, there are also anti-malware programs from other companies. However, more is not necessarily better. Running many anti-malware programs at the same time can cause the system to become sluggish or unreliable.

You should never open emails or attachments from unknown senders that you do not know. Viruses are often attached to email messages and are transferred to the system as soon as the attachment is opened. This is known as phishing and is one of the most common cyber threats today. Therefore, it is better not to open any attachments unless it is something expected. Also, you should only visit safe websites.

Pop-up windows are small browser windows that appear in addition to the website that is currently open. Although most of them are designed for advertising purposes, they can also contain dangerous or malicious code. As a rule, these windows can be completely or partially prevented with the help of a pop-up blocker. If you use Microsoft Edge as your browser, the pop-up blocker is activated by default.

Microsoft regularly provides special security updates that can contribute to the security of your computer. By patching potential security vulnerabilities, these updates help to prevent viruses and other malicious attacks. Windows updates ensure that the user's PC receives these updates automatically. However, it may be necessary to restart the system from time to time to ensure that the updates are fully installed.