How Can You Avoid Downloading Malicious Code?

Last Updated on 3 weeks by Touhid

Malicious code is refers to the harmful code or web script that can cause damage to a computer, server or network system. In this post, we will discuss on how can you avoid downloading malicious code and why do you avoid downloading malicious code.

There are different types of cyber threats in cyber world such as viruses, worms, Trojan horses, Spyware and Ransomware. Each type of threats has malicious script to hack your sensitive information. The Malicious code on computer can activate itself or a user to perform an action, such as clicking on vulnerable link or downloading malicious code or opening an email attachment.

How Can You Avoid Downloading Malicious Code?

Once the Malicious code enter into your system, then the code can impact on your system overload by sending huge number of traffic, deleting files, stealing sensitive data, reformatting hard drives etc. So, you have to take preventive action from malicious code. Here, we have discussed on some important tips on how can you avoid downloading malicious code.

1. Install professional antivirus software
2. Don’t Click On Suspicious Links
3. Don’t Download Free Software
4. Don’t Browse Unsecured Websites
5. Block pop-up advertisements
6. Install a Firewall
7. Do Not Reply To Phishing Email
8. Don’t Download Free Software and Programs
9. Use Different Passwords for Multiple Accounts
10. Update Your Operating System and Software

1. Install professional antivirus software

Antivirus software is the first security software to preventing and detecting malware and virus. The Antivirus software helps to protect your computer when downloading documents or files from internet. It scans every file to your computer and prevent from malware such as viruses, worms and Trojan horses.

In order to protect from malicious code you should use professional antivirus software. There are different types of professional anti-virus software and you can use one of them and keep updated with latest version.

• Norton
• Bitdefender
• Kaspersky
• Panda
• ESET
• Avast
• AVG

2. Don’t Click On Suspicious Links

When you are going to click on a download link or any other link and if the link is suspicious then don’t click on it. A suspicious link may contain malicious code.

However, if you click on that suspicious link, then there has a chance to install malicious software on your computer or you may redirect to a vulnerable website.

In that case, how can you avoid downloading malicious code? The answer is never click on suspicious links.

How can you identified a link is suspicious? To check a link is suspicious or not “hover your mouse over the URL to see where it is redirecting to you, if it is redirecting to your targeted site then the link is valid, otherwise the link is suspicious”.

3. Don’t Download Free Software

It is very important tips for how can you avoid downloading malicious code. We are downloading free software regularly from internet. Even we never justify that free software may have malicious code or virus, which may impact on our computer.

Although, some free software’s are completely safe to download. By the by, before downloading free software or files from internet, first you have to make ensure that downloading site is secured by SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certificate and your computer has installed anti-virus software.

4. Don’t Browse Unsecured Websites

How can you avoid downloading malicious code? An unsecured websites may have virus or malware. So, don’t visit unsecured websites or download files, software and any other documents to protect from malicious software.

If you want prevent from malicious code or protect your computer from malware then avoid to browsing unsecured websites.

A secured or trusted websites is secure by SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certificate. In URL, you can see that a website starts with https:// such as: https://www.google.com.

5. Block Pop-up Advertisements

Pop–up ads or pop–ups are one of the most aggressive and annoying forms of online advertising on the Web. A Pop–up ad may have malicious code, and if you click on it then the malware installed on your computer and can infect your computer.

It is noted, that all pop-ups aren’t harmful. So you have to identify the source of those pop–ups which seem to be suspicious.

So, you should block the pop-up advertisements to protect from malicious code. Typically, most of the browsers have the feature on block pop-up advertisements.

Even you can install Adblock Plus for block pop-up advertisements permanently. Adblock is one of the most popular and available ad blocker on Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Android and iOS.

6. Install a Firewall

A firewall is security software which is designed to monitors network traffic and prevents malware infection by blocking malicious traffic. Firewall creates an obstacle between internal and external network in order to protect from malware and cyber threats.

If your windows firewall is off mode, then an attacker can gain unauthorized access to your computer by sending malicious script to your computer.

Here are the simple steps for enable the Windows Firewall:

• Start→ Control Panel→ System and Security→ Click Windows Firewall.
• Click on Turn Windows Firewall on or off link in the left side of the window.
• Now, select the Turn on Windows Firewall radio button for both (Home and Public) of the network locations.
• Finally Click on OK.

Learn More related article Web Application Firewall.

7. Do Not Reply To Phishing Email

When you will receive a phishing email and if you reply on that email then you will be redirected to a malicious website or your sensitive information will be hacked by attacker.

In that case, you should never reply this type of email. If you think the email is suspicious then you can direct phone call to sender to confirm as he/ she sends the email.

8. Be Careful about Installing Software

This is another important tip for how can you avoid downloading malicious code and programs from websites. When you are visiting a malicious website or a pop-up window notify you with some instruction to download new software or update your current programs which are installed on your computer.

In that case, if you agree and download (install) the updated software then your computer will be infected with malicious code.

You have to ensure the website is trusted and read the reviews online about the software before downloading and installing new software or updated programs.

9. Use Different Passwords for Multiple Accounts

It is strongly recommended to you that never use the same passwords for multiple accounts. Use unique and strong passwords for multiple accounts. If you use same passwords for multiple accounts such as email, bank and social networking site and if one of them account’s passwords is discovered then all other accounts will be compromised.

So, it is better to use unique passwords for multiple accounts.

For example:

• Email account ->Use unique passwords
• Facebook account –> Use unique passwords
• Bank account –> Use unique passwords

If you think that your computer is infected with malicious code then changes your password immediately. Typically, change your passwords regularly, usually between 30 and 180 days.

Learn more about How to create a strong password?

10. Update Your Operating System and Software

In order to protect from malware you should update your operating system (Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, or any other OS), antivirus software and other security devices (such as Firewall). The updated version of software and security devices will keep your computer secure and malware free.

Lastly, by updating your operating system and software will ensure that your data is free from viruses and other cyber-attacks.

Why Do You Avoid Downloading Malicious Code?

Already we know that, how to prevent from malicious code. So we can protect our computer, network or server from malicious attacks. Now, we will discuss on Why Do You Avoid Downloading Malicious Code.

A malware is malicious software which includes viruses, spyware, adware, and different types of harmful software which impacts on computer. Here are the some important reasons Why Do I Avoid Downloading Malicious Code:

• To avoid from malicious attack
• To protect your sensitive information from hacking
• To protect from unauthorized access of computer resources
• To prevent from computer crash or shutting down or restarting
• To protect from phishing attack
• To protect from computer slow down
• To protect from malware

Conclusion

The Malicious code is unwanted harmful files which can do anything on your computer. Finally, we can say that if you want to avoid malicious code then don’t download any apps or software from third-party app stores. Even if you want to download and install then must read the reviews before downloading apps. Hope the article “how can you avoid downloading malicious code” will be helpful for you.