Oftentimes these infection attempts will try to instill a sense of urgency to install software or download a file containing a hidden virus. Sometimes it can be as simple as visiting a malicious website or clicking a fake link in an email scam. So how does malware infect a computer? There are plenty of ways to fall victim to a malware infection.

How Your Devices Become Infected With Malware This is why being able to recognize the symptoms of an infected device is vital to protecting your personally identifiable information and fending off identity theft. Malware can find its way onto your devices - both PCs and Macs are vulnerable - in several ways, potentially exposing your social security numbers, debit and credit card information, login information, bank account data and more. No matter what form it takes, malware aims to profit from your misfortune, either by stealing your personal information and selling it on the dark web or by encrypting your data, locking you out until you pay a ransom to regain access.

Malware (short for malicious software) can manifest in various forms: spyware, legitimate programs bundled with viruses, backdoors, worms, adware, ransomware, trojans and more. We created a guide that explains exactly how to rid your Mac or PC of malware. Malware removal can seem daunting after your device is infected with a virus, but with a careful and rapid response, removing a virus or malware program can be easier than you think.

How to clean your mac of viruses