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_ngcontent-serverapp-c1066340367="" href="/en/blogs">Blogs</a></li></ol></div></nav></wxt-breadcrumb></header></wxt-header><router-outlet _ngcontent-serverapp-c3233496809=""></router-outlet><app-page _nghost-serverapp-c3072653200=""><main _ngcontent-serverapp-c3072653200="" property="mainContentOfPage" typeof="WebPageElement" class="container"><app-alert _ngcontent-serverapp-c3072653200="" _nghost-serverapp-c3592091850=""></app-alert><h1 _ngcontent-serverapp-c3072653200="" id="wb-cont">What is malware: How to protect yourself</h1><div _ngcontent-serverapp-c3072653200="" id="main"><article data-history-node-id="83" about="/en/blogs/what-malware-how-protect-yourself" class="page full clearfix"> <div class="content"> <div class="row bs-1col-stacked"> <div class="col-sm-12 bs-region bs-region--top"> <div data-block-plugin-id="block_content:1af8f657-4625-4012-9414-da0913b6c1cf" class="block block-block-content block-block-content1af8f657-4625-4012-9414-da0913b6c1cf clearfix"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><section class="followus" nowrap="nowrap" style="padding-left: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><h2 class="h6" style="margin-left: 0">Follow:</h2> <ul><li><a class="facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/GetCyberSafe" style="border: solid 2px #fff;" tabindex="-1"><span class="wb-inv">Facebook</span></a></li> <li><a class="linkedin" href="https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/get-cyber-safe" style="border: solid 2px #fff;" tabindex="-1"><span class="wb-inv">Linkedin</span></a></li> <li><a class="twitter" href="https://twitter.com/getcybersafe" style="border: solid 2px #fff;" tabindex="-1"><span class="wb-inv">Twitter</span></a></li> <li><a class="instagram" href="https://www.instagram.com/getcybersafe/" style="border: solid 2px #fff;" tabindex="-1"><span class="wb-inv">Instagram</span></a></li> <li><a class="youtube" href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEzYzSmu1IFQXghAzLrYBmf278UnRbVyo" style="border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); border-image: none;" tabindex="-1"><span class="wb-inv">YouTube</span></a></li> </ul></section></div> </div> </div> <div class="col-sm-12 bs-region bs-region--main"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:page:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodepagebody clearfix"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item"><p>April 30, 2020</p> <p>We download all the time. Whether it’s a new album from our favourite band, an application to help our browser run a little smoother, or a new computer game we’re hoping to try out, downloading is a part of our daily lives.</p> <p>The problem is that, if we’re not careful about what we download, we leave ourselves vulnerable to attacks from cyber criminals.</p> <p><img alt=""a person looks uncertainly with a phone in one hand and an envelope in the other"" class="img-responsive align-right" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ae0a5a45-7a40-4bfc-9595-729080dbec9d" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/header-Blog_Malware_580x330-EF.jpg" style="margin:20px" width="580" height="330" loading="lazy">Malware is a common method that cyber criminals use to infect systems and devices and steal information from victims. A cyber criminal tries to trick you into opening an attachment, clicking a link, or downloading software that looks legitimate but that is a malicious.</p> <p>Here’s how you can protect yourself.</p> <h2>What is malware</h2> <p>Malware – short for malicious software – is software that infects your computer so that cyber criminals can infiltrate or damage your system or device. A cyber criminal may use malware to steal information or carry out malicious activities.</p> <p>Cyber criminals are experts at making malware look like a legitimate file or software program, such as anti-virus software. Malware can interfere with your ability to use your computer or device as intended. For example, some malware redirects you to a third‑party site when you attempt to use the search function in your Internet browser.</p> <h2>The most common ways you can get malware</h2> <p>Downloading programs is the most common way to infect your device with malware. For example, you may download a software application that looks legitimate but that is actually malware designed to hack your computer. But direct downloads while browsing websites aren’t the only way you can get malware. You might infect your computer or device by opening or downloading  attachments or clicking on links in emails or text messages.</p> <h2>How to protect yourself</h2> <h3>Install and use anti-malware software</h3> <p>One of the best ways to protect yourself from malware is to download anti-malware software.</p> <p>Anti-malware software provides an extra layer of security when you download something. You can be set up the software to run automatically so that files are scanned as they are downloaded. You can also set up your anti-malware software to perform scheduled scans of your computer.</p> <h3>Beware of downloads</h3> <p>Where does malware come from? Downloads.</p> <p>That’s why it’s so important to be careful when downloading something from the internet. Stopping malicious software at the source keeps you – and your computer – safe. Choose official app stores to download apps, updates and modifications, and use caution when opening attachments or clicking on links in suspicious emails.</p> <h3>Spot the signs of malware being on your computer</h3> <p>The best way to protect yourself from malware is to stop it from ever ending up on your computer or device in the first place. But the reality is that your device may be infected. Spotting the signs of malware is the next step in protecting yourself. The signs aren’t always obvious. Some malware can run secretly in the background. In other cases, though, there are telltale signs such as programs crashing without warning, your computer freezing, and general poor performance.</p> <p>If you think your device has been infected with malware, disconnect it from your Wi-Fi network. Scan your device with anti-malware software to confirm whether malware is present. If the device is owned by your employer, you should contact your IT department as soon as possible. If your personal device has been infected with malware, contact a reputable IT service provider.</p> <h2>Conclusion</h2> <p>Malware is one of the most common methods of cyber attacks. But there are steps you can take to make yourself less vulnerable.</p> <p>By doing what you can to educate yourself, you’re less likely to become a victim of cyber crimes.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-sm-12 bs-region bs-region--bottom"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:page:comment" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodepagecomment clearfix"> <section> </section> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:page:field_related_links" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodepagefield-related-links clearfix"> <section class="panel panel-success" style="margin-top:10px;"> <header class="panel-heading"> <h3 class="panel-title">Related Links</h3> </header> <div class="panel-body"> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a data-rel="internal" href="/en/resources/malware-infographic-detected">Malware infographic detected!</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a data-rel="internal" href="/en/blogs/ransomware-101-how-stay-cyber-secure">Ransomware 101: How to stay cyber secure</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a data-rel="internal" href="/en/resources/video-malware-and-ransomware">Video: Malware and ransomware</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a data-rel="internal" href="/en/resources/ransomware-back-your-data-or-else">Ransomware: Back up your data, or else!</a></div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div><wxt-prefooter _ngcontent-serverapp-c3072653200="" _nghost-serverapp-c832015165=""><div _ngcontent-serverapp-c832015165="" class="pagedetails"><dl _ngcontent-serverapp-c832015165="" id="wb-dtmd"><dt _ngcontent-serverapp-c832015165="">Date modified: </dt><dd _ngcontent-serverapp-c832015165=""><time _ngcontent-serverapp-c832015165="" property="dateModified">2021-10-29</time></dd></dl></div></wxt-prefooter></main></app-page><wxt-footer _ngcontent-serverapp-c3233496809="" _nghost-serverapp-c372692533=""><footer 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A cyber criminal tries to trick you into opening an attachment, clicking a link, or downloading software that looks legitimate but is actually malicious.","body":"\u003Carticle data-history-node-id=\"83\" about=\"/en/blogs/what-malware-how-protect-yourself\" class=\"page full clearfix\">\n\n \n \n\n \n \u003Cdiv class=\"content\">\n \u003Cdiv class=\"row bs-1col-stacked\">\n \n\n \u003Cdiv class=\"col-sm-12 bs-region bs-region--top\">\n \n\n\u003Cdiv data-block-plugin-id=\"block_content:1af8f657-4625-4012-9414-da0913b6c1cf\" class=\"block block-block-content block-block-content1af8f657-4625-4012-9414-da0913b6c1cf clearfix\">\n \n \n\n \n \u003Cdiv class=\"field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item\">\u003Csection class=\"followus\" nowrap=\"nowrap\" style=\"padding-left: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\">\u003Ch2 class=\"h6\" style=\"margin-left: 0\">Follow:\u003C/h2>\n\n\u003Cul>\u003Cli>\u003Ca class=\"facebook\" href=\"https://www.facebook.com/GetCyberSafe\" style=\"border: solid 2px #fff;\" tabindex=\"-1\">\u003Cspan class=\"wb-inv\">Facebook\u003C/span>\u003C/a>\u003C/li>\n\t\u003Cli>\u003Ca class=\"linkedin\" href=\"https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/get-cyber-safe\" style=\"border: solid 2px #fff;\" tabindex=\"-1\">\u003Cspan class=\"wb-inv\">Linkedin\u003C/span>\u003C/a>\u003C/li>\n\t\u003Cli>\u003Ca class=\"twitter\" href=\"https://twitter.com/getcybersafe\" style=\"border: solid 2px #fff;\" tabindex=\"-1\">\u003Cspan class=\"wb-inv\">Twitter\u003C/span>\u003C/a>\u003C/li>\n\t\u003Cli>\u003Ca class=\"instagram\" href=\"https://www.instagram.com/getcybersafe/\" style=\"border: solid 2px #fff;\" tabindex=\"-1\">\u003Cspan class=\"wb-inv\">Instagram\u003C/span>\u003C/a>\u003C/li>\n\t\u003Cli>\u003Ca class=\"youtube\" href=\"https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEzYzSmu1IFQXghAzLrYBmf278UnRbVyo\" style=\"border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); border-image: none;\" tabindex=\"-1\">\u003Cspan class=\"wb-inv\">YouTube\u003C/span>\u003C/a>\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\u003C/section>\u003C/div>\n \n \u003C/div>\n\n \u003C/div>\n \n \u003Cdiv class=\"col-sm-12 bs-region bs-region--main\">\n \n\u003Cdiv data-block-plugin-id=\"field_block:node:page:body\" class=\"block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodepagebody clearfix\">\n \n \n\n \n \u003Cdiv class=\"field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field--item\">\u003Cp>April 30, 2020\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>We download all the time. Whether it’s a new album from our favourite band, an application to help our browser run a little smoother, or a new computer game we’re hoping to try out, downloading is a part of our daily lives.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>The problem is that, if we’re not careful about what we download, we leave ourselves vulnerable to attacks from cyber criminals.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg alt=\""a person looks uncertainly with a phone in one hand and an envelope in the other"\" class=\"img-responsive align-right\" data-entity-type=\"file\" data-entity-uuid=\"ae0a5a45-7a40-4bfc-9595-729080dbec9d\" src=\"/sites/default/files/inline-images/header-Blog_Malware_580x330-EF.jpg\" style=\"margin:20px\" width=\"580\" height=\"330\" loading=\"lazy\" />Malware is a common method that cyber criminals use to infect systems and devices and steal information from victims. A cyber criminal tries to trick you into opening an attachment, clicking a link, or downloading software that looks legitimate but that is a malicious.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>Here’s how you can protect yourself.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Ch2>What is malware\u003C/h2>\n\n\u003Cp>Malware – short for malicious software – is software that infects your computer so that cyber criminals can infiltrate or damage your system or device. A cyber criminal may use malware to steal information or carry out malicious activities.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>Cyber criminals are experts at making malware look like a legitimate file or software program, such as anti-virus software. Malware can interfere with your ability to use your computer or device as intended. For example, some malware redirects you to a third‑party site when you attempt to use the search function in your Internet browser.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Ch2>The most common ways you can get malware\u003C/h2>\n\n\u003Cp>Downloading programs is the most common way to infect your device with malware. For example, you may download a software application that looks legitimate but that is actually malware designed to hack your computer. But direct downloads while browsing websites aren’t the only way you can get malware. You might infect your computer or device by opening or downloading attachments or clicking on links in emails or text messages.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Ch2>How to protect yourself\u003C/h2>\n\n\u003Ch3>Install and use anti-malware software\u003C/h3>\n\n\u003Cp>One of the best ways to protect yourself from malware is to download anti-malware software.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>Anti-malware software provides an extra layer of security when you download something. You can be set up the software to run automatically so that files are scanned as they are downloaded. You can also set up your anti-malware software to perform scheduled scans of your computer.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Ch3>Beware of downloads\u003C/h3>\n\n\u003Cp>Where does malware come from? Downloads.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>That’s why it’s so important to be careful when downloading something from the internet. Stopping malicious software at the source keeps you – and your computer – safe. Choose official app stores to download apps, updates and modifications, and use caution when opening attachments or clicking on links in suspicious emails.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Ch3>Spot the signs of malware being on your computer\u003C/h3>\n\n\u003Cp>The best way to protect yourself from malware is to stop it from ever ending up on your computer or device in the first place. But the reality is that your device may be infected. Spotting the signs of malware is the next step in protecting yourself. The signs aren’t always obvious. Some malware can run secretly in the background. In other cases, though, there are telltale signs such as programs crashing without warning, your computer freezing, and general poor performance.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>If you think your device has been infected with malware, disconnect it from your Wi-Fi network. Scan your device with anti-malware software to confirm whether malware is present. If the device is owned by your employer, you should contact your IT department as soon as possible. If your personal device has been infected with malware, contact a reputable IT service provider.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Ch2>Conclusion\u003C/h2>\n\n\u003Cp>Malware is one of the most common methods of cyber attacks. But there are steps you can take to make yourself less vulnerable.\u003C/p>\n\n\u003Cp>By doing what you can to educate yourself, you’re less likely to become a victim of cyber crimes.\u003C/p>\n\u003C/div>\n \n \u003C/div>\n\n \u003C/div>\n \n \u003Cdiv class=\"col-sm-12 bs-region bs-region--bottom\">\n \n\u003Cdiv data-block-plugin-id=\"field_block:node:page:comment\" class=\"block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodepagecomment clearfix\">\n \n \n\n \u003Csection>\n \n \n\n \n\u003C/section>\n\n \u003C/div>\n\n\u003Cdiv data-block-plugin-id=\"field_block:node:page:field_related_links\" class=\"block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodepagefield-related-links clearfix\">\n \n \n\n \n \u003Csection class=\"panel panel-success\" style=\"margin-top:10px;\">\n \u003Cheader class=\"panel-heading\">\n \u003Ch3 class=\"panel-title\">Related Links\u003C/h3>\n \u003C/header>\n \u003Cdiv class=\"panel-body\">\n \u003Cdiv class=\"field--items\">\n \u003Cdiv class=\"field--item\">\u003Ca data-rel=\"internal\" href=\"/en/resources/malware-infographic-detected\">Malware infographic detected!\u003C/a>\u003C/div>\n \u003Cdiv class=\"field--item\">\u003Ca data-rel=\"internal\" href=\"/en/blogs/ransomware-101-how-stay-cyber-secure\">Ransomware 101: How to stay cyber secure\u003C/a>\u003C/div>\n \u003Cdiv class=\"field--item\">\u003Ca data-rel=\"internal\" href=\"/en/resources/video-malware-and-ransomware\">Video: Malware and ransomware\u003C/a>\u003C/div>\n \u003Cdiv class=\"field--item\">\u003Ca data-rel=\"internal\" href=\"/en/resources/ransomware-back-your-data-or-else\">Ransomware: Back up your data, or else!\u003C/a>\u003C/div>\n \u003C/div>\n \u003C/div>\n \u003C/section>\n\n \u003C/div>\n\n \u003C/div>\n \n\u003C/div>\n\n \u003C/div>\n\n\u003C/article>\n","uuid":"02e89315-a715-4d22-8ed4-f50375a42a24","content_type":"page","lang":"en","banner":"/sites/default/files/2020-07/5570_CSE_signs_of_a_phishing_scam_1170x347.jpg","date_modified":"2021-10-29","date_created":"2020-04-30T15:08:33Z","url":"/en/blogs/what-malware-how-protect-yourself","og_img":null,"og_img_alt":null,"twt_img":null,"twt_img_alt":null,"other_language_url":"/fr/blogues/quest-ce-quun-maliciel-et-comment-vous-en-proteger","breadcrumb":[{"title":"Blogs","url":"/en/blogs"}],"topic":[303,309],"audience":null,"category":[335],"isHomepage":false}}},"headers":{"date":["Fri, 07 Mar 2025 10:04:20 GMT"],"content-type":["application/json"],"transfer-encoding":["chunked"],"connection":["keep-alive"],"vary":["Accept-Encoding"],"access-control-allow-origin":["*"],"x-frame-options":["SAMEORIGIN"],"x-content-type-options":["nosniff"],"x-xss-protection":["1; mode=block"],"referrer-policy":["no-referrer-when-downgrade"],"strict-transport-security":["max-age=31536000; includeSubDomains"]},"status":200,"statusText":"OK","url":"https://www.getcybersafe.gc.ca/api/getcybersafe/page/v1/get?lang=en&url=/en/blogs/what-malware-how-protect-yourself","responseType":"json"}}</script></body></html>