Changes

==Prevention and Recovery==

==Prevention and Recovery==

Most malware can be prevented from infecting a computer by following these guidelines:

Most malware can be prevented from infecting a computer by following these guidelines:

*Keep your computer and your software updated

*Keep the [[operating system]] on computer, phone, tablet, etc. and your software updated

*Always run an antivirius program on your computer

*Run an antivirius program on your computer

*Do not connect computers with outdated/unsupported software to the internet

*Do not connect computers with outdated/unsupported software to the internet

*Only download/install software from trusted sources

*Only download/install software from trusted sources

*Regularly back up important files and email messages

*Regularly back up important files and email messages

If you find, or suspect, that you have malware on your computer, you can do one or more of the following (listed in order of how time-consuming they are):

If you find or suspect, that you have malware on your computer, you can do one or more of the following (listed in order of how time-consuming they are):

*Run a security scan with your antivirius software

*Run a security scan with your antivirius software

*Run one, or more, of several anti-malware programs

*Run one, or more of several anti-malware programs

*Reinstall your operating system and software

*Reinstall your operating system and software

It may be impossible to guarantee that your computer/phone is never compromised with malware.  Even trustworthy sources can become unintentional providers of malware.  Sometimes security flaws in software allow attackers to gain access to your computer resources, before the software supplier is aware of the flaw.  Exploitation of these flaws before the software manufacturer provides patches are called zero-day exploits (or zero-day hacks).

It may be impossible to guarantee that your computer, phone, or other devices have never compromised with malware.  Even trustworthy sources can become unintentional providers of malware.  Sometimes security flaws in software allow attackers to gain access to your computer resources, before the software supplier is aware of the flaw.  Exploitation of these flaws before the software manufacturer provides patches are called zero-day exploits (or zero-day hacks).  Additionally, legitimate software can be compromised either by direct attack on the publisher, or by a supply chain attack (in which, a third party is attacked, leading to the compromise of software downstream).

==References==

==References==