What’s the Difference Between Computer Viruses and Malware?

Often the terms malware and computer virus are used interchangeably however they are in fact not the same. A computer virus is just one type of malware that a computer can become infected with. It is a commonly used term to describe an infection within a computer system. The term malware is a broader term and refers to any and all malicious software that infects a computer, including a computer virus. Two common types of malware that users are familiar with are spyware and adware. It is crucial that users install protection software to fight off new malware as it occurs.

Malware infections are infecting computer systems and mobile devices at growing rate. Malware is a software program that has been created to cause damage and spread infection from a host system to systems the host comes in “contact” with. Including computer viruses, malware includes various types of software including trojan horses, worms, adware, and spyware. The most aggressive malware, known as ransomware, works to gain financially from computer users.

Viruses: As previously stated, a computer virus is one type of malware on its own. A virus is infectious software code that is used to infect a host system and spreads when it runs. Computer viruses are most often spread when software is shared between computers. It is similar to a parasite in that the virus “feeds” off the host computer and spreads from the host. Once the host shares the virus it then continues to spread to systems that it is shared with. A lot of users with viruses end up with them due to receiving and opening an email that has a virus infection. The more the email is shared, the more systems ultimately become infected.

Adware: Infected software that comes through in the form of advertisements is known as adware. This type of malware that provides advertisements in order to bring in revenue for the source. The infected ad is shown to the computer user and when the ad is installed the system is infected. Adware software is coded in a manner that it uses the sites that users often visit to create related ads. Although all adware does not have the intent to harmful it becomes a problem because it slows down computer function and can be quite aggravating.

Spyware: Software that spies on your online activity and tracks where you go on the internet in order to gather information on the user is known as spyware. Users do not consent to the tracking and often do not know it is running. Spyware is a difficult type of malware to detect. Employers may install spyware programs to monitor the online activity of users. Employer installed spyware software will not spread.

Worms: A worm is a malware type that duplicates itself and annihilates the information and files that are saved on the pc including the operating and data files.

Trojan: Trojans are a virus that has been created in a manner that builds user trust by making them think they are about to tun a safe program. They are designed to steal information and then take over the files within the computer system. In larger commercial settings, Trojans can make network resources unavailable to users when they try to reach it.

Ransomware: The most malicious type of malware is known as ransomware. Users are unable to access the system until they have paid a fee. Often times a pop-up shows on the computer screen which states the user has been locked out. It will state that a ransom fee needs to be paid in order to remove any restrictions that have been placed on the system. Cryptolocker is the most well-known type of ransomware today.

If you believe that your personal computer, server, or network workstation has become infected with malware it is critical that the system is shut down and immediately scanned by software that is specifically designed to locate and remove infections. The professional IT specialists at Creative Programs and Systems can perform these scans via remote desktop, in person at your location, or on-site in our Brighton, MI location.

Creative Programs and Systems, CPS, is an all-inclusive IT solutions company offering a variety of services including: managed IT services, IT consulting, residential computer services, custom programming, website design, iphone & android app development, and more. More information can be found at https://cpsmi.com.

PC Repair: Is Your Computer Ready for A Trip into The Shop?

Your personal computer contains a great deal of personal and private information. When it needs to go in for service there can be a great deal of anxiety with leaving it in the hands of a computer repair technician. Not only will they have access to your password-protected accounts, technicians will be performing complicated procedures that can often include your computers hard drive. Thus, it is important to take necessary precautions to ensure that your computer and its data are protected before it is services to avoid any unnecessary disasters resulting in lost data.

Preparing Your PC for A Trip into The Computer Repair Shop

Store Important Information on The Cloud: Many people cannot live without their personal computers or the information on them, so it is inevitable that you will more likely than not need to access to the info on the PC while it is in for repair. To be able to accomplish this it is vital to add current projects into a folder on the cloud such as Dropbox or OneDrive. This allows the files to be accessed from another source at any time.
Backup: A backup of your PC is always important but never as much as when your computer is going in for repairs, just in case something was to happen that damages the hard drive. This ensures that the data files can be restored, and your computer returned to its original state. When a backup is restored it is important that the original image was not the cause of the initial need for service.
Protection of Sensitive Materials: For most of us there is information stored within our PC’s that we don’t want people to see or have access to. Some of this could include bank statements, credit card information, tax forms, or anything that is potentially “embarrassing” to you or those to stumble upon it. These files should either be removed, after you have securely backed them up to an external source or encrypted.
Be Prepared for An Unexpected Diagnosis: Many times, over we self-diagnosis our computer problems without much to go on. Even after talking with the PC repair technician we often have a false sense of what is wrong based on their best guess given they have yet to dive in to the system for a proper diagnosis. It is vital to be prepared for a diagnosis that is different than what you had anticipated; also meaning the time frame for fixing said issue could be significantly different.

Often the trip to have your computer worked on will go smoother than anticipated but it is always important to be prepared for the inevitable.

Learn more about Creative Programs and Systems, CPS, and the IT solutions they provide including IT consulting, computer consulting, network consulting, networking, server installation, IT disaster recovery, computer repair, virus removal, malware removal, computer tune ups, data backup systems, computer troubleshooting, structured cabling, low voltage wiring, website design, graphic design, logo design, website hosting, search engine placement, iphone app programming, android app programming, and custom programming at www.cpsmi.com. To contact one of our IT experts, call 810.224.5252 today or via email at info@cpsmi.com.

3 Common Computer Glitches: Is it Software or Hardware Related?

The world we live in is run on advances in technology. From the timing of the stop lights to the programs we work with daily, our everyday lives are made simpler with technology. What happens though when the technology that is so intertwined within our daily lives fails? With personal computers these problems are inevitable; from user error to complex hardware issues, pc troubleshooting basics are a must for everyday users.

Slow Computer Speed

Many common complaints regarding user’s PC’s surround the speed of the systems. One day our computers are running without issue and the next they are crawling along at a snail’s pace. A slow computer could occur for a number of software or hardware related issue. When a computer is slow from software related issues it could be from a virus or malware infection, too many open windows, or even from an accumulation of temporary files being uploaded. Slow computer issues can also come from the systems hardware. If you have ruled out software issues have the systems hard drive checked out for failure, not enough RAM, or an older CPU that needs to be replaced.

Constant Restarting of Your PC

Sometimes it seems as if your PC might be possessed; computers that keep restarting on their own can cause a great deal of headaches for users. When your computer keeps restarting without the users request it can signal issues with either the computers software or hardware systems. When a system begins to reset on its own first check the software for any automatic OS update errors. Another issue could come from a virus or malware infection. This is easily remedied by taking your computer in for service at a local computer repair company for virus removal scans. If software isn’t to blame, then it’s time to look into the computers hardware. Check the computers graphics card, motherboard and network card drivers, all which could be to blame for the computer restarting on its own.

External Computer Component Failure

Another common computer issues have to do with the keyboard, mouse, or printer not functioning as they should. Again, this can have something to do with either software or hardware. Check the computers drivers, update them and verify if this was the issue or if it still remains. If the keyboard, mouse, or printer are still not working as they should check the systems hardware. Look to make sure the computers ports or peripheral components are working properly. If not, this could be the issue at hand.

Using Your Local Computer Repair Source

These are just three common issues that affect everyday computer users. The best solution anytime your computer is not functioning as it should be take it in for troubleshooting and diagnosis at your local computer repair source. Most computer issues can easily be diagnosis and fixed relatively quickly as computer consultants understand just how important computer technology is to your everyday life.