Explain the term malware and its types. What precautions should be taken to prevent the entry of malware?

Malware is a malicious program that enters into a computer and damages it without the user's knowledge. It not only interrupts the normal working of a computer, but also steals important information of a user.

The different types of malware are:

1. Adware — Adware are programs that send unwanted advertisements to the user's computer. These advertisements generally appear in the form of pop ups, which can disrupt user's working.
2. Spyware — Spyware is malicious software that can collect various types of personal information, such as tracking the internet surfing habits and visiting web pages by the user or changing the configuration of our system.
3. Virus — A virus is a contagious program or code that attacks the user's system and causes damage to data and files on a system.
4. Worm — A worm is a program which can create multiple copies of itself and can consume large portion of system memory.
5. Trojan Horse — Trojan Horse is a program that at first glance seems to be useful but once it is activated, it harms the system by deleting files or by modifying useful information.
6. Denial-of-service attack — It is a harmful program meant to slow down a system. It can block a computer network and makes the software inaccessible to the user.
7. Rootkit — A malware designed to remotely control our system without being noticed. Once installed it will remotely access and modify sensitive system information without being tracked by any security program.
8. Backdoors — This software helps the other malware to enter our system and harm it.
9. Keyloggers — These are software designed to capture keystrokes without being identified by the user or security program.
10. Ransomware — It sends messages on a user's system that the system is locked and the user will not be able to work on it until one pays a certain amount.

Some precautions that should be taken to prevent the entry of malware are:

1. Security Programs — Reliable and updated anti-virus program should be installed on the computer. It should also be programmed to regularly scan and quarantine the system.
2. Secure Internet access — Only secure sites should be used for financial transactions avoiding sharing of personal information. Installation and download from unauthorised sources should be avoided.
3. Regular security updates — Always update your applications and OS and pay special attention to security patches and bulletins for each software.
4. Avoid Spams — Delete and avoid opening emails from unwanted or suspicious sources. Never download or open any attachments from such emails.
5. Scanning All Portable devices — All Portable devices should be scanned before use.
6. Backups — Regular backups are essential for data protection and integrity restoration.
7. Disable cookies, if possible — Cookies should be disabled on the browser to ensure safety of personal information.