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A concerned person looks at their laptop, wondering what type of malware they have.
15 types of malware: real-world examples and protection tips
Learn about all the different types of malware, including spyware, adware, trojans, worms, viruses, ransomware, botnets, and more.
Updated: December 20, 2024 ·15 min read
A person sits at their laptop wondering “is my computer haunted?” The reality is it is probably not a ghost. It is probably malware.
Is your computer haunted? No, it’s probably malware
Your computer isn’t haunted—it’s probably malware. Check out the signs of infection, and how to protect yourself from these digital ghosts.
Updated: October 07, 2024 ·7 min read
Adware bombards you with disruptive ads.
What is adware and how do you get rid of the invasive software?
Adware is an invasive malware that floods users with advertisements. Learn how adware can infect your devices—and how to remove it.
Updated: September 30, 2024 ·9 min read
A logic bomb is a cyber attack that detonates when certain conditions are met.
Logic bomb definition, examples, and protection
Learn about logic bombs and their dangers. Explore real-world logic-bomb examples, understand how they work, and discover tips to protect yourself.
Published: August 09, 2024 ·7 min read
Learn what to do if a scammer has your email address.
What to do if a scammer has your email address – 8 tips
What should you do if a scammer has your email address? Find out if scammers have hacked your email account and what they can do with your email address.
Updated: July 12, 2024 ·8 min read
A woman thinks her phone may be hacked.
Is my phone hacked? 5 warning signs + protection tips
Common signs of phone hacking include high data usage, lots of pop-ups, new apps you didn’t download, strange outgoing calls, or a draining battery.
Updated: June 21, 2024 ·9 min read
A person looks at an excel file infected with a macro virus.
What is a macro virus? + How to remove one
A macro virus is written in the same language used by Excel, Word, and similar programs. Learn how macro viruses work and how to spot them.
Updated: May 13, 2024 ·7 min read
Trojan horse model on a desk symbolizing Trojan viruses, with person typing on a laptop in the background, highlighting the theme of detecting and removing trojan viruses.
Trojan viruses: Detecting and removing
Trojan horse, or Trojan, is a type of malicious code or software that can take control of your computer. It is designed to damage, disrupt, steal, or in general inflict some other harmful action on your data or network. Once installed, a Trojan can perform the action it was designed for.
Published: May 08, 2024 ·6 min read
A photograph of stars protecting a small house that illustrates the best antivirus software to protect your digital life.
Best antivirus software: 2024 comparison guide
We compare the 9 best antivirus software suites in 2024 so you can choose the best one. Find prices, features, FAQs, and more.
Published: May 03, 2024 ·14 min read
An image of a yellow hard hat and a blue hard hat, representing Norton and Malwarebytes respectively.
Norton vs. Malwarebytes: 2024 comparison guide
Choosing the right antivirus is essential if you want to stay safer online. We're going to help you decide between two of the best: Norton vs Malwarebytes.
Published: May 03, 2024 ·8 min read
A man uses his phone to figure out how to fix his computer after a zip bomb went off.
What is a zip bomb and how does it work?
Zip bombs look deceptively small but can expand to a massive size and overload your device. Learn how.
Published: April 02, 2024 ·6 min read
A man sitting on a couch looks down at his phone and learns about lateral movement attacks.
What are lateral movement attacks?
Hard to detect and harder to contain, lateral movement attacks start with a single device, then spread infection across a network. Here’s what you need to know about them.
Published: March 11, 2024 ·7 min read
A woman scans her work computer for a computer virus.
Computer viruses: How they spread and tips to avoid them
What is a computer virus? Learn how computer viruses spread, how to spot them, and tips to keep them at bay.
Updated: February 29, 2024 ·6 min read
A picture of someone working on a computer that is free of a browser hijacker.
What are browser hijackers? Removal + prevention tips
Browser hijackers are a form of software that alters your internet experience. Follow this guide to learn more about browser hijackers and how to remove them.
Updated: February 20, 2024 ·7 min
An image of a horse in the desert to highlight the significance of remote access trojan malware.
What is a remote access Trojan? A cybersecurity guide
Remote access Trojans trick you into giving hackers complete control of your device. Learn how RATs work and how to prevent attacks.
Published: February 18, 2024 ·10 min
A man sits at a table looking at his laptop and wonders if he’s accidentally pirating software.
Are you accidentally pirating software?
Software piracy isn’t always malicious. In fact, it’s surprisingly easy to do it accidentally. Here’s how to make sure you aren't doing it.
Published: January 31, 2024 ·4 min read
A woman looks at her computer screen and considers her options after a hacker targets her in a ransomware attack.
6 common types of ransomware you need to know about in 2024
There are currently six common types of ransomware, and they collectively contribute to millions of cybersecurity attacks globally each year. Learn more.
Published: December 15, 2023 ·16 min
A person in a yellow sweater looking up the answer to what is antivirus on a laptop.
What is antivirus? Definition, types, and benefits
Learn more about antivirus software, including how it works, the different types available, and its role in protecting your devices from viruses and malware.
Published: November 28, 2023 ·8 min
A man in glasses and a yellow shirt sitting on a couch with a laptop, engrossed in his work.
Can Macs get viruses? Yes. Here's how to protect yours
Can Macs get viruses? Follow this guide to learn how to keep your Mac safe from viruses, malware, and other threats that could harm your device.
Published: November 03, 2023 ·10 min
A woman using an iPad to read about how to protect herself from viruses.
Can iPads get viruses? An iPad cybersecurity guide
iOS viruses are extremely rare, but iPads are still vulnerable to other types of malware, along with online privacy and security threats.
Published: November 03, 2023 ·13 min
A couple thanks the IT specialist who removed malware from their computer after a webcam hacking attempt.
Webcam hacking: How to spot and prevent an intrusion
Learn how to identify and safeguard against webcam hacking attacks to keep your private life and information secure. Read for more tips and tricks.
Published: October 25, 2023 ·6 minute
A woman reads about scareware on her laptop
What is scareware + how to remove it
Scareware is invasive software that tries to frighten users into performing specific actions. Learn how to detect and remove these programs from your devices.
Published: September 06, 2023 ·7 min read
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What Is cyber security? What you need to know
Cyber security is the state or process of protecting and recovering networks, devices and programs from any type of cyberattack. Learn more.
Published: September 01, 2023 ·4 min read
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What is a botnet?
A botnet is a string of connected computers coordinated together to perform a task. Learn how they work and how you can help protect yourself.
Published: September 01, 2023 ·4 min read
A woman in glasses gazes at a laptop, potentially avoid a rootkit attack.
What is a rootkit? Detection + prevention tips
A rootkit is malware that grants attackers access to a device while remaining undetected. Follow his guide to learn how to detect and guard against rootkit attacks.
Published: July 21, 2023 ·4 min read
A man looking at his computer wondering if his device has spyware.
Spyware: What it is and how to protect yourself
Spyware is a type of malware that infiltrates your device and covertly gathers intel about you. Learn about spyware removal tips in this guide.
Published: July 20, 2023 ·3 min read
Woman typing on laptop wondering if her keystrokes are being logged.
What is a keylogger? A total protection guide
Not sure what a keylogger is? Find out how a keylogger attack could affect you and how you can protect yourself and your device.
Published: July 19, 2023 ·4 min read
A person holding an iPhone, researching if iPhones can get viruses.
Can iPhones get viruses? Yes, here’s what to do
Can iPhones get viruses? Yes. If your phone has a virus, you can restart it, clear your browsing history, delete suspicious apps, or do a factory reset.
Published: July 17, 2023 ·3 min read
A woman frustrated with a virus on her Android phone, learning how to remove it.
How to remove a virus from an Android phone
Wonder whether your Android phone is harboring a virus or other malware? Learn how to detect and remove it.
Published: June 14, 2023 ·2 min read
A person using a laptop to protect their computer from malware.
How to remove malware from a Mac or PC
Malicious software can threaten your cybersecurity and leak your sensitive information. Read our guide to learn how to remove malware from a Mac or PC.
Published: March 17, 2023 ·3 min read
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Special Issue Norton Cyber Safety Pulse Report – The Cyber Risks of ChatGPT
In this special issue of the Norton Pulse Report, Norton Labs explores how cyber criminals could leverage Chat GPT to enhance their scams.
Published: March 02, 2023 ·5 min read
A man holding a tablet reading about malware and how to cure the symptoms.
19 signs of malware + how to cure the symptoms
Is your device acting weird? If so, it may be malware. Follow this guide to learn about the signs of malware and how to diagnose and treat a malware infection.
Published: November 22, 2022 ·2 min read
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What is CryptoLocker? An overview + prevention tips
CryptoLocker is ransomware that encrypts your files and requests payment to decrypt them. To learn more about CryptoLocker and how it works, follow this guide.
Published: October 12, 2022 ·3 min read
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How to avoid ransomware: 9-step guide
Trying to avoid ransomware? Use this nine-step guide to learn how to better avoid ransomware threats online.
Published: August 15, 2022 ·4 min read
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What are drive-by downloads + drive-by attack prevention tips
What are drive-by downloads? Use this complete guide on drive-by attacks to help protect your data from drive-by hacking and other dangerous online threats.
Published: February 14, 2022 ·4 min read
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Website spoofing: What to know about counterfeit domain names
Website spoofing, aka domain spoofing, occurs when a scammer mimics the website of a trusted company with the goal of stealing visitors' personal information.
Published: February 08, 2022 ·3 min read
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What is ransomware and how to help prevent ransomware attacks
Ransomware is a form of malicious software that locks and encrypts a victim’s computer or device data, then demands a ransom to restore access. In many cases, the victim must pay the cybercriminal within a set amount of time or risk losing access forever. If the attackers don’t give you the decryption key, you may be unable to regain access to your data or device.
Published: November 23, 2021 ·3 min read
Woman researching how to remove a heuristic virus from her device.
What is a heuristic virus and how do I remove it?
Heuristic virus can refer to malware detected by heuristic analysis or the virus Heur.Invader, which compromises a device’s security and antivirus measures.
Published: September 17, 2021 ·4 min read
small-biz-ransomware
How ransomware can affect your small business
You're never too small to be the target of a ransomware attack. Learn tips for small business owners.
Published: August 06, 2021 ·3 min read
ip-spoofing
IP spoofing: What is it and how does it work?
IP spoofing allows cybercriminals to infect your computer with malware, steal your sensitive data, and crash your server, often without detection.
Published: November 25, 2020 ·3 min read
A mother and daughter browsing a device that is protected from malware like computer worms.
What is a computer worm, and how does it work?
A computer worm is a type of malware that spreads copies of itself from computer to computer. It can replicate itself without any human interaction and does not need to attach itself to a software program in order to cause damage. Worms can be transmitted via software vulnerabilities.
Published: August 28, 2019 ·2 min read
woman-laptop-headphone-coffe-cup
Malware attacks: What you need to know
Malware is software that cyber attackers develop to gain access or cause damage to a computer or network, usually without the victim’s knowledge. Different types of malware include viruses, spyware, ransomware, and Trojan horses. Malware attacks can occur on all sorts of devices and operating systems, including Microsoft Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.
Published: July 17, 2019 ·3 min read
A man using a laptop and mobile device to protect himself from malvertising threats.
Malvertising: What is it and how to avoid it
Malvertising can infect your computer with malicious software even when visiting legitimate sites. Here’s how.
Published: August 08, 2018 ·2 min read
A man with a puzzled look on his face wondering if he's entered a malicious website or fallen victim to identity theft.
What are malicious websites?
Most people don't know that you don’t have to intentionally download a malicious attachment to compromise your computer’s security.
Published: August 08, 2018 ·3 min read
A family enjoying a sunny day in a flower field, a reminder of the importance of protecting our families from viruses.
Virus FAQ
Are you a Norton customer who is facing a problem with malware? Use this page to get answers to frequently asked questions. My computer has a virus. How did this happen? Thousands of new viruses…
Published: August 08, 2018 ·3 min read
Two laptops sitting back-to-back, illustrating how fileless malware can spread quickly and easily between devices.
What is fileless malware and how does it work?
Fileless malware uses your system’s software, applications and protocols to install and execute malicious activities. Learn more.
Published: August 08, 2018 ·4 min read
A man writing down ways to protect his computer from a Trojan downloader.
What is a Trojan downloader?
A Trojan downloader is a type of Trojan horse that downloads and installs files, often malicious programs.
Published: August 08, 2018 ·2 min read
Man researching PUAs while listening to music.
What is a PUA (Potentially Unwanted Application) or PUP (Potentially Unwanted Program)?
Potentially Unwanted Applications (PUAs) are unwanted software programs that come bundled in legitimate free software programs as a package.
Published: August 08, 2018 ·2 min read
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What are bots?
Bots, or internet robots, are also known as spiders, crawlers, and web bots. Malware bots are defined as self-propagating malware that infects its host. Malware is delivered in download format via social media or email messages that advise clicking a link.
Published: January 18, 2018 ·2 min read

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