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Broadband Internet connectivity allows people to be online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. While this makes using the Internet much easier and faster, it also leaves computers open to the many hidden threats of the Internet. These threats, collectively known as ‘malware’, are malicious programmes and code that seek to infect your computer.

 

Malware has been around for as long as computers have been able to communicate with one another. One of the most well-known examples is the computer virus. The computer virus is a piece of malicious code that can destroy or change the files on your computer and reduce the performance of your computer. Some viruses are just annoying pranks, but the Internet has spawned a few that are downright dangerous.

 

With broadband internet connectivity people are a lot more exposed to a variety of malware that is present on the Internet. Trojan horses, spyware and adware are just some examples of malware that an average Internet user may be subjected to while surfing. Not all of these are necessarily dangerous but they can reduce the performance of your computer or harass you with advertisements and unwanted pop-ups.

 

Even though the umbrella term, malware, is negative it should be mentioned that not all malware is malicious. As mentioned previously, many of these programmes simply sit on your computer and record your surfing habits. This information is then used to target you with pop-up advertisements or to send you spam emails. It is annoying, but hardly threatening and a common threat with broadband internet connectivity. If only all malware was as harmless.

 

Other forms of malware try to get your confidential information or harm your computer. Keyloggers try to steal your credit card or banking information while you are shopping online. Viruses, as mentioned before, destroy your files and system information making it impossible for your computer to function. Other malware hide in on you computer and take control of your machine when you are not using it to attack other computers via the Internet.

 

Luckily there are programmes freely available on the Internet that can help protect you computer from malware. Programmes like AdAware and SpyBot work like antivirus programmes but actively search for malware that are not viruses, Trojans, keyloggers, spyware and the like. Many commercial antivirus programmes have malware detection included in the package. It is just important to scan your computer regularly and to keep the protection active while using your broadband Internet connection.

 

Broadband Internet connectivity is a very useful tool but like many tools there are things to be careful of. Malware exists all over the Internet and can seriously harm your computer or frustrate you to no small degree. By surfing with care and using software to combat these hidden threats, however, you shouldn't have to worry.

 

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