This can include viruses, worms, trojans, ransomware, and spyware.
Its short for malicious software, and depending on the throw in you have, poses different risks.
Some malware can disguise itself as legitimate software, making it difficult for antivirus programs to detect.
For comprehensive protection, consider using Norton.
Some cybersecurity programs, like Bitdefender, come with ransomware remediation that can restore encrypted files on your gear.
It aims to disrupt business operations, commit data theft, and extort victims for the hackers financial gain.
Its particularly dangerous because of its ability to self-propagate.
It is one of the most prevalent forms of malware in the world today.
It was most prominent during the pandemic as part of major phishing campaigns.
Like with ransomware, many antivirus programs can protect against spyware.
However, if youre particularly concerned about it, you’re free to getdedicated anti-spyware programsto stop it.
Shamoon is an example of a virus that damages a computers system and prevents it from booting up.
It was most recently seen during a large-scale cyber attack against Aramco, a Saudi Arabian oil company.
Once your gadget is vulnerable, it has free reign to perform any number of malicious acts.
Emotet is a well-known trojan that is used to steal banking login credentials.
Worms
Worms can self-replicate and spread to other devices without human interaction.
Worms are often spread through social networks, P2P file-sharing networks, email, and instant messengers.
They can also spread through infected USB sticks and external hard drives.
Fileless Malware
Fileless malware doesnt need to install a malicious file on your unit.
Instead, it uses your systems own tools and software to execute malicious activities.
Operation Cobalt Kitty was a cyberattack campaign that occurred in 2017 utilizing fileless malware.
The attackers targeted the devices of an Asian companys top-level management to make it steal sensitive business information.
The fileless malware managed to remain undetected for over a year.
Rootkits
Rootkits gives the attacker admin-level access to your system.
Adware
Adware is designed to bombard you with annoying pop-up ads.
How Does Malware Get Onto Your equipment?
Malware can also be buried in email attachments and bundled with applications downloaded from questionable sources.
Even just visiting an infected website can put your unit at risk.
Of course, its not always that simple to avoid malware.
Even the most careful users can be affected by malware.
For all of these reasons, anantivirus or internet security suiteis essential to protect you from malware.
How to Know If You Have Malware On your rig or Smartphone?
So the best way to ensure that your rig is clean is by using an antivirus program.
How to Remove Malware From Your equipment (& How to Prevent It)?
Frequently Asked Questions
Malware vs. virus whats the difference?
Viruses are malware, but there are many forms of malware that arent viruses.
Theres often misunderstanding about what these two terms actually mean simply because a lot of people use them interchangeably.
The term virus refers to a specific kind of malware that can self-replicate.
This means that it can copy itself and rapidly spread from equipment to equipment.
Agood antiviruswill be able to detect and remove all types of malware, including viruses.
Norton is an especially reliable antivirus with perfect malware detection rates.
What is the most dangerous kind of malware?
All malware is dangerous, but you should be especially careful of ransomware and spyware.
All thebest antivirus programs can detect and remove spywareand prevent ransomware from infecting your machine.
How do you remove malware from your Windows PC or Laptop?
The best way to remove malware from a Windows PC or laptop is to get yourself good antivirus software.
We recommend using one of thesetop antiviruses in 2025.
Theyre all easy to set up and use and have great malware detection rates.
Can Mac computers be infected with malware?
Most antiviruses focus on protecting PCs, so you should be careful when choosing a Mac antivirus.
I recommend Intego for Mac, which isour overall favorite antivirus for Mac in 2025.
Is it possible for mobile devices to get infected with malware?
Yes, mobile devices can be infected with malware.
My favorite antivirus for bothAndroidandiOSdevices is NortonMobile Security.
Its easy-to-use, has excellent malware detection rates, and comes with great additional features.
Can I remove malware with a free antivirus?
Yes, you might remove malware with atrusted free antivirus.
They also lack useful additional features like ransomware protection, web protection, VPN, and more.
This is why I strongly recommend getting an affordable paid antivirus like Norton instead.
Will antivirus software slow down my rig?
All antiviruses will affect your performance to some extent.
Lightweight antiviruses like Bitdefender are especially good for users concerned about potential slowdowns.
