We are used to encountering very diverse varieties of malware and threats when surfing the net. Hackers use complex techniques that target all kinds of devices and systems. It is true that we can count on tools and methods to protect ourselves, but also cyber criminals perfect their attacks. In this article we are going to talk about what rootkits are and what we can do to avoid being victims of this type of threat.
What are rootkits
We can say that the rootkit is one more variety of malware that we can find and that can put our systems and devices at risk. It has its peculiarities that differentiate it from other more traditional varieties that we can find.
Rootkits are types of malware that are specifically designed to hide in our system . This makes them difficult to detect and can logically cause major problems for users who experience this type of problem on their devices.
A hacker can use this type of malware called rootkit to remotely control a system. You can steal passwords, credentials, victim information like your credit card or bank details. They could even use them to disable possible security tools that block access to certain programs or content in order to act freely.
Sometimes, precisely because of what we mentioned that it can block antivirus , it is difficult to detect. They can be in our systems without users becoming aware of it.
The main problem is that in many cases, in most in fact the only way to remove what is known as rootkit is to erase the operating system and reinstall it from scratch. We are talking about a type of malware that is hidden within the system.
How to avoid rootkits
Now, it is important to know that we can take into account certain tips and measures to avoid becoming victims of rootkits. The goal is that our computer never gets infected by this problem that could compromise our security and privacy.
Download from official sources
Something basic not only to avoid rootkits, but any other type of threat is to download only from official sources . It is essential that when we download software or any file on the network we do so from legitimate and reliable sites.
If we download from third party sources we may be adding software that has been maliciously modified to compromise our system. This can be a problem to be avoided at all costs.
Keep teams up to date
It is also vital to have the equipment updated and with the latest patches installed. This is essential, since on many occasions vulnerabilities arise that can be exploited by hackers to carry out their attacks.
It is the manufacturers themselves who release patches and security updates to resolve these issues. It is something that can happen to all kinds of operating systems and devices.
Beware of email
No doubt many types of attacks come through email . We are talking, for example, about Phishing, which seeks to steal passwords and credentials from users through the bait they send.
Common sense in this regard is vital and never make mistakes. Whenever we go to login or download content, we must do it directly from reliable sources and never access it from links that we receive by email.
Use security tools
Finally something that can not be missing are the security tools . A good antivirus can prevent malware from entering our system. It can help us protect computers and eliminate potential threats.
Of course, we must bear in mind that it is necessary to have tools that are good, that really help. We have a wide range of possibilities in this regard and are available for all types of devices and systems.
In short, these are some tips to avoid rootkits that can affect our computers.
