Malware

Sorry, but it is true: computers are not always 100% honest.

Of course, this may not be true of your mom, best friend, or significant other, but your computer may not always be honest. Now wait—before you get too accusatory with the machine, consider that it may be acting against its will. If it is, it is likely due to malware. Want to know what malware is, who its intended targets are, and what can be done about it?

Malware is short for malicious software. It is software designed to run on your computer or device to:

Steal personal information stored or typed on a computer (Trojans, spyware)
Steal or borrow system resources
Gain unauthorized access to resources on other machines
Disrupt or modify normal computer operation
Scare or threaten future attacks (scareware)
Automatically play, display, or download advertisements (adware)
Annoy the owner of the infected device

Intended Targets

Targeted devices range from personal computers to commercial networks, schools, and government facilities. Non-targets are by far the shorter list.

Type of Target	Examples	Notes
Operating Systems	Windows, Linux	Any operating system can be a target
Social Platforms	Facebook	Spread through social engineering
Mobile Platforms	Android, Apple	Mobile-specific threats
Packages	Adobe	Targeted due to ubiquity
Utility Systems	US Power grid	Targeted industrial software (e.g., Siemens WinCC)
Blogging Platforms	WordPress	Content management targets
Investment Firms	Global & NY Firms	High-value financial targets

How serious is the threat? According to Symantec's Internet Security Threat Report, there were over 286 million unique variants of malware causing 3.1 billion attacks in a single year.

Protection & Prevention: How TheraP.C. Can Help

The best defense against infection is education. For home computers, offices, and commercial networks, we can:

Detect, remove, and repair infected machines remotely or on-site
Perform routine maintenance and audits against new threats
Provide educational resources against phishing and social engineering
Deliver monthly threat scorecards for management
Provide total peace-of-mind for your digital health

Uncertain about your threat level?

Call TheraP.C. Today