CIO: 8 ways to fend off spyware, malware and ransomware

Recent increases in cyberattacks and identity theft make it seem like the whole Internet is turning into the Dark Web. But while no system is unhackable, there are some painless precautions you can follow that might help keep you step ahead of the bad guys.

By Paul Mah
Sep 16, 2015

Spyware, malware, phishing and, more recently, ransomware -- the list of online threats can be confusing and daunting. Knowing what you’re up against is half the battle. Each of these types of attacks have specific characteristics:

Spyware - software that collects information about you or your computer without your knowledge.

Malware - a broad category of software (including viruses, worms, Trojan horses, etc.) that damages your computer, in either a minor or major way.

Phishing - an attempt to get your personal information (usernames, passwords, credit card numbers and), usually for nefarious reasons. Usually accomplished by electronic communication (e.g., email), but also by "social engineering" (tricking people into abandoning standard security protocol).

Ransomware - a much more extreme version of spyware that will actually threaten to lock you out of your computer or encrypt your files unless you cough up a fee.

Most of these are easier to avoid than they are to remove. The following easy-to-implement security practices will help you protect yourself and your business from becoming easy targets for cybercriminals and online scammers.

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