There are many types of threats that can compromise the security of our computers. In this article we are going to talk about what Madware consists of. We are going to see how it can affect us and, most importantly, what to do to be protected and not have security problems. It’s a problem that can put a wide variety of devices at risk and compromise your privacy.
What is the malware
We can say that malware is not just a virus that infects a computer. In recent years it has evolved a lot and new attacks have been emerging and improving others that already existed. We have especially seen a significant rise in attacks against mobile devices. Precisely that has a lot to do with Madware.
Madware is a term derived from the words “mobile” and “adware” . Adware is a type of malicious software that can flood your computer with advertising. Sometimes it is nothing more than that, annoying advertising, but on other occasions it can be a much more serious problem, since it could steal our passwords or personal data.
So what exactly is malware? This is adware specifically designed for mobile devices. Here we can talk about mobile phones, tablets and other similar devices. Cybercriminals take advantage of the fact that we use mobile phones for almost everything and have perfected these attacks. Their goal is to fill the phone or tablet with deceptive advertisements, invasive advertisements or messages indicating that something is wrong with the system. This will logically affect performance, since it can slow down the device.
Madware is capable of replacing legitimate programs . In this way we will be using software that pretends to be a common application, of the system itself, but in reality it has been modified by the attackers. It will show us advertisements, but it can also flood that application with links that take us to fake pages and scam us.
How can they infect you?
It is important to know at all times how our devices can be attacked . In this case we are going to explain how Madware can infect a system. This will help us take steps to protect you from falling prey to hackers and leaving your information exposed.
unofficial apps
Most commonly, Madware infects a mobile device through unofficial programs . Basically they are the applications that we install from sources that are not official, such as the program’s own page or stores such as Google Play and the like, which have a filter.
But it could even come through programs that are official. Sometimes applications can sneak into legitimate stores, either due to a vulnerability or someone passing off a fake program as real and sneaking it.
files by mail
Through e-mail they can also enter Madware on a device. Usually this is a file we receive from unknown sources . It can be a simple text document, an image, a ZIP file… This strategy is quite common for cybercriminals and they use it to send many types of malware.
It is common for them to use some bait to make us click. For example, sending us an email to tell us about a supposed problem with one of our accounts, an offer or any change that we must make. What they are looking for is to draw the victim’s attention so that they end up clicking and downloading a malicious file.
fake pages
But the Madware could also arrive simply by browsing. We may arrive at a dangerous web page, which is full of fake links and contains viruses. If we click on one of those links, we can end up in a section where there will be malicious files that will be the ones that will flood our mobile device with adware.
Hackers can create web pages that are practically identical to the original ones. Sometimes they just change the domain with some letter or number and everything else is the same, a copy. This makes it difficult to detect when we are facing a threat and when it is something legitimate.
Social networks
Social networks are a widely used means of communication. For example we can use some like Facebook, Twitter or Instagram . But this is also used by hackers to launch attacks, steal passwords and try to sneak malware onto our computers without us noticing.
Madware can also arrive by this method. They could use bots to send fake messages on one of these social media platforms. This could lead to problems and see our device filled with adware, misleading advertisements and start malfunctioning.
What to do to avoid this threat
After seeing what Madware is and how it can infect us, we have to talk about the most important thing: what to do to avoid this security problem . We are going to give a series of essential recommendations to avoid not only this type of malicious software, but also others that may affect us.
Avoid mistakes, the most important
The main thing is not to make mistakes and always keep common sense . Both Madware and many other security attacks are going to require us to make a mistake. For example, that we download a file that they send us by mail and it is actually a fraud, that we install some false update, etc.
Therefore, always avoid making this type of mistake and always pay close attention to what you do on the Internet and how you use applications. This will help you avoid many network security problems.
Use only official programs
Of course, something very important is to install software only from official sources . This will help reduce the risk of cyber attacks and problems with your privacy. Use the official page of the application, but also reliable stores such as the Microsoft Store or Google Play.
You should especially avoid third-party sites, the pages you reach without really knowing who may be behind it. This is where cybercriminals can host fake applications with the aim that we install them and start stealing information and causing the system to malfunction.
have security applications
You can not miss a good antivirus to detect security threats. There are many programs available, both free and paid. However, you should always choose very well which one to install. It is not enough to use any that you find, since it may not really protect you and may even become an added problem.
Some options like Avast or Bitdefender work very well. Find out well before installing them and use only those with guarantees, which have a good reputation. Otherwise it would not be of much use and you would not be properly protected from Madware.
Keep everything up to date
Another point to keep in mind is that it is convenient to have everything well updated . In many cases, attackers will take advantage of vulnerabilities that may exist in a system. These security flaws can be the entry point and it is important at all times to avoid problems and we solve that thanks to the patches.
Now, updates should always be done safely. Be careful with the supposed security patches that you can find when browsing, since on many occasions it is a scam and it will only make your data compromised.
In short, as you have seen, Madware is a major security problem. It is essential that you take steps to prevent it and protect your mobile devices. Avoiding errors, using security programs or having everything up to date is the basis for not taking unnecessary risks when surfing the net.
