Tag

Malware Protection

Stay informed about malware protection techniques that defend against ransomware, spyware, trojans, and other malicious software. Posts cover detection tools, removal procedures, endpoint security best practices, and proactive measures to reduce your attack surface.

posts

Adware vs Spyware

Adware vs Spyware: What Security Pros Know You Don't

In March 2021, Avast researchers disclosed that at least 28 browser extensions — used by roughly three million people — were quietly harvesting browsing data and redirecting users to phishing and ad-laden sites. Some of those extensions looked like simple ad-blocking tools. Others posed as social media helpers. Under the hood, they

Carl B. Johnson Sep 16, 2021 7 min read
Computer Virus Prevention

Computer Virus Prevention: 9 Steps That Actually Work

In May 2021, a single compromised password shut down Colonial Pipeline — the largest fuel pipeline in the United States. Gasoline shortages spread across the Southeast. The company paid a $4.4 million ransom in Bitcoin. The root cause wasn't some exotic zero-day exploit. It was a legacy VPN

Carl B. Johnson Jul 01, 2021 7 min read
Computer Virus Prevention

Computer Virus Prevention: 9 Steps That Actually Work

The Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack this month shut down fuel distribution across the eastern United States. A single compromised password led to one of the most disruptive cyberattacks in American history. If you think knowing how to computer virus prevent strategies is just IT housekeeping, that pipeline — and the gas

Carl B. Johnson May 29, 2021 6 min read
Adware vs Spyware

Adware vs Spyware: What Security Teams Must Know

In 2023, a seemingly harmless browser extension called "PDF Toolbox" was downloaded over two million times from the Chrome Web Store before researchers at Palant discovered it was quietly injecting tracking code and redirecting ad revenue — a textbook adware operation that crossed hard into spyware territory. That single

Carl B. Johnson May 08, 2020 7 min read
Computer Virus Prevention

Computer Virus Prevention: 9 Steps That Actually Work

In 2023, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center received over 880,000 complaints with potential losses exceeding $12.5 billion — a 22% increase from the year prior. A massive chunk of those incidents started with something deceptively simple: a computer virus delivered through a phishing email, a malicious

Carl B. Johnson Feb 14, 2019 7 min read