malware Archives - Rick's Daily Tips

How to make sure a downloaded file is safe before opening it (updated)

Posted on September 5, 2025

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Have you ever downloaded a file from the Internet and worried that it might be infected with malware?

That’s a real concern these days with all the malware that’s floating around the web.

It’s getting harder by the day to know exactly which sites to trust since malicious files are even making their way onto legitimate download sites.

Luckily, it’s pretty easy to determine whether any file on your computer is malware-free or not by running a couple of simple scans. [Read more…]

This simple tip can help protect your computer from malware

Posted on September 1, 2025

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Unfortunately, in the Internet age, viruses and other forms of malware tend to spread like wildfires, and it’s getting harder by the day to keep your devices from getting infected by them.

That’s why it’s important to install a high quality antivirus program on your Windows computer, keep it updated at all times and perform a couple of on-demand malware scans on a regular basis.

Macs aren’t as likely to get infected with malware as Windows machines, but it’s happening more all the time. And when it does the results can be catastrophic, which is why I recommend that Mac users install Malwarebytes on their machines.

With all of the above being said, a little due diligence can go a long way towards keeping your machines safe as well. [Read more…]

Understanding the impact of ransomware attacks

Posted on August 18, 2025

Introduction

Over the past decade, ransomware has evolved from a niche cybercrime tactic into one of the most dangerous and costly threats in the digital landscape.

Initially, these attacks targeted individual users for small sums, but they have since scaled into highly organized operations that cripple global businesses, hospitals, schools, and even government agencies. [Read more…]

Real-Time vs. On-Demand: Antivirus protection explained

Posted on August 16, 2025

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I’ve been receiving questions from folks who are confused about the terms Real-Time and On-Demand in regards to antivirus protection, so I thought it might be helpful to explain the difference between them here.

Both real-time and on-demand antivirus protection are important for keeping your computer free of viruses and other forms of malware, but while they are closely-related, they operate in very different ways. [Read more…]

Q&A: How can I tell if my computer has a virus?

Posted on July 21, 2025

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Question from Geneva: I keep reading about all the computer viruses going around and how they can cause you a bunch of problems.

I’m a complete dummy when it comes to this stuff, Rick. How can I find out if my computer is infected? [Read more…]