Is your PC or laptop essential to your continued workflow? If so, this list of tech viruses will keep you on your toes when it comes to cybersecurity.
Viruses, malware, ransomware, keylogging – whatever technique they use, these are the products of hackers. These are software bugs designed to get inside your files and start corrupting information. They might watch what buttons you use on your keyboard to monitor your passwords for certain websites. They might hack your phone deliberately since phones have little to no cyber protection. A well-designed virus can destroy your whole system, even transmitting the information in your customer files to a far-off location.
5 Common Tech Viruses and Bugs Which Harm Your Computer
The modern world is full of these nasty bugs, designed to harm your computer or steal your information. Protecting yourself with high quality cyber security systems is essential, but especially so if you run a company and store client information on your computer. Data breaches cost the economy hundreds of millions of dollars each year, with the average cost per corporation topping 4.5 million in 2023. Don’t let it happen to you by being aware of the following bugs.
1 – Crypto Ransomware
This type of ransomware is designed to block access to the files shared on your computer. Since crypto mining has become a particularly attractive opportunity, you can imagine what one of these viruses let loose on a cryptocurrency server could do. Since mining involves many computers solving complex equations at the one time, blocking access would stop those computers interacting with one another and take down the whole network. You can learn about ransomware here if you would like to know more.
2 – Trojan Viruses
The Trojan virus is probably the best known of all the computer viruses. Trojan horse viruses look inconspicuous. They disguise themselves as other types of files, usually harmless ones, so that they can gain access to your computer. Once you open the file, it spreads the viral software throughout your system, doing damage wherever it can.
3 – Spyware
Spyware is a nasty bug which has one purpose: to steal your details. Spyware is a type of software designed to monitor your system until you try to login to your online bank account, or other accounts where you have access to your finances. They steal your login details, and your account is empty before you even know it. Keylogger viruses are similar but not quite the same.
4 – Phishing Scams
Phishers are usually disguised as fraudulent companies. They use whatever information you give them to gain access to your other accounts. There is a high chance you will use similar passwords across multiple accounts and devices. Phishing scams encourage you to set up an account with their fake firm. They record your personal details and try to use them with other accounts.
5 – Worm Viruses
Worms are also well known in the computing industry. A worm virus wants to eat up all the server access your computer has. Designed to eat up all your bandwidth by reproducing itself, the worm mines through all your data like a mouse nibbling at wires.
Avoiding Computer Viruses
Avoid these viruses with up to date anti-virus software and a cyber security strategy in case something does go wrong.