Blog Post

Malware (“malicious software”) is a program that gets installed by bad actors on your computer or phone and often can go undetected for some time. This software comes in the form of viruses that spread across your devices; trojan software that presents itself to be good; and ransomware, which will lock your files in exchange for money. While you are unaware of its presence, it is secretly stealing your data and threatening your business and your customer’s cybersecurity.

Malware can get on your devices in several ways. It can be installed if you or an employee downloads a bad file. Beyond that, visiting bad websites can also automatically install malware just by clicking a site link. Finally, weird emails from people you don’t know could have malware attached to them. At Tech Eagles, we can’t stress enough the importance of being careful what you click!

The good news is that there are ways to spot hidden malware on your devices if you know what to look for. If you notice that your device is suddenly responding much slower or if the internet is running slowly or using more data than usual, it could be malware. Suspicious pop-ups are another indicator. Even your battery life could be a sign: if your battery seems to be draining more quickly than normal, be aware that it may be more than just an old battery.

There are simple ways that you can check for malware yourself. Having a good antivirus program is a great way to scan your devices to find and remove bad software. It’s also wise to look through all the apps and programs on your devices and remove any that you don’t remember installing. Another easy tip is to check your task manager and look for programs that use a lot of your device resources or have weird names. You also can check your browser extensions and uninstall any that you don’t use or recognize.

If you think there’s a risk of malware on your systems, the first thing to do it stay calm! If you haven’t already, run a full antivirus scan of the suspected device. Update all your software so that all programs and operating systems are current and fully patched. Change all your account passwords immediately. And backup your data to a safe location, such as the cloud or an alternate, off-site server.

It’s important to know that you should use these tips not only as a defensive response to malware but also as offensive procedures for you and your staff to follow. Tech Eagles takes your business security very seriously. We are happy to talk with you on additional measures to protect your business today!