Malware, short for malicious software, is an umbrella term used to refer to a variety of forms of hostile or intrusive software. Malware is defined by its malicious intent, acting against the requirements of the computer user - it does not include software that causes unintentional harm due to some deficiency.
Malware is now ubiquitous, a prevalent vehicle for online crime. The rate of malware production has grown vastly in the past ten years, possibly outstripping the speed at which legitimate software is being created. Thankfully there are steps that can be taken and tools that can be used to protect against malware:
- Install a good anti-virus program - some are very good at protecting against malware. Even some of the free apps are adequate when it comes to facing off malware. Ensure that any software is updated regularly.
- Install anti-malware software - they provide real time protection against malware. Malwarebytes is a good choice.
- Immediately scan all downloads with anti-virus/malware software
- Pay attention to the size of the files that you may be torrenting - ensure that the file size corresponds with the media - most major movies are at least 700 MB, (unless the uploader has stated that the file has been optimized for mobile use) it is unlikely that the feature film you are looking for will be available as a 1 MB torrent. Additionally, ensure that it is a media file and not an .exe that you will be downloading.
- Avoid running systems as root or administrator unless necessary - follow the principle of 'least privilege'.
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