Malware Protection & Advice
NOTE: We are currently working on a new Malware Information centre for Element Anti-Virus customers. Therefore, information displayed on this webpage may not be accurate. Thank you for your patience.
Get the latest news about what Element Anti-Virus is able to help to protect your computer against, and see new threat alerts and how they may compromise your computer's security and personal information and how to remove them.
FAQs
What types of malware are there?
How do I tell if my PC is infected?
How do I remove malware from my computer?
I had malware on my computer recently, is my personal information compromised?
When do I get updates for the Element Anti-Virus software?
Malware is malicious software developed by an individual or organization with intent to steal your personal information, wreck havoc on your computer, or do damage to your files. Or it can do all three. All in all, it is something you do not want running on your personal computer, and because of the popularity of the internet, malware is a common threat when surfing online and downloading files.
What types of malware are there?
Unfortunately, there are many types of malware in the wild, which have different characteristics, so you should always know what type of malware could be running on your computer and compromising your personal information.
Spyware- Spyware is software that can install itself or run on your computer without providing you with adequate notice, consent, or control. Spyware might not display symptoms after it infects your computer, but many malicious or unwanted programs can affect how your computer runs. Spyware can, for example, monitor your online behaviour or collect information about you (including personally identifiable or other sensitive information), change settings on your computer, or cause your computer to run slowly.
Virus- A virus is a rogue process that attaches or installs itself on your computer and onto your operating system. A virus is usually written to slow down or break components within a system, cause frustration to a user or to cause other malicious damage, specifically identity stealing or destruction of a computer network.
Trojan- Trojans are more associated with identity theft, since they can open a backdoor access into your computer allowing unauthorized access to your files, usually to deal damage to data or send information to a third party.
Rootkit- A Rootkit can embed or attach itself to your operating system, which makes it more difficult to detect and remove. However, Element TotalProtect can remove rootkits with a high success rate.
Worm- A worm can replicate itself many times and infect a computer without further user intervention required. Worms can be more dangerous than a virus since they do not need to attach themselves to other programs or files in order to deal damage.
How do I tell if my PC is infected?
You might have some form of spyware or virus on your computer if:
- You notice new toolbars, links, or favourites that you did not intentionally add to your web browser.
- Your home page, mouse pointer, or search program changes unexpectedly.
- You type the address for a specific website (for example, a search engine), but you are taken to a different website without notice.
- You see pop-up ads, even if you're not on the Internet.
- Your computer suddenly starts running more slowly that it usually does.
- You have documents that have moved to another folder or are missing
- Your Operating System encounters unexpected faults or errors.
There might be spyware or a virus on your computer even if
you don't see any symptoms. This type of software can collect
information about you and your computer without your knowledge or
consent. To help protect your privacy and your computer, we
recommend that you run
How do I remove malware from my computer?
Download our antivirus package, Element TotalProtect, and use it to remove malware that are running on your computer. Alternatively, you can download one of our free removal tools for specific malware types.
I had malware on my computer recently, is my personal information compromised?
It is highly likely, yes. Even if malware has been removed from your computer, there is a good chance that your information has already been stolen by cyber criminals. To prevent information from your accounts from being used, we urge you to immediately change all passwords in all of your accounts, and notify your credit card company of potential illegal activity that could be taking place on your account, that is, if you shop online frequently.
As a counter-measure, Element TotalProtect provides identity protection and clean up tools that can erase and hide your tracks online away from malicious people.
When do I get updates for the Element Anti-Virus software?
Element Software releases updates to the malware heuristics, definitions and filter databases for Element Anti-Virus on the first working day of each month. Element Software also provide service updates and service packs for Element Anti-Virus on regular intervals.
Have a suspicious looking
file?
You can send it to our anti-virus labs for reviewing, and we will
send you a response if we feel that your computer has been
compromised.
Click here to submit a sample to our labs.
We provide removal tools at no charge for specific viruses. Click here to download one of our removal tools.
To get support for a per-incident problem, click here.