INVITATION TO CYBERSECURITY 244 ask for permissions that they do not actually need to perform their core function, such as constantly sending location data to their company servers. Figure 9.11 Configuring Windows startup apps. Computers can do many things at once, but people cannot. Users should strive to create a simple computing environment where they can maintain a better grasp of all the activities being performed by their computers. R.2.3.3 Run Antivirus Software It is disconcerting when a person’s computer starts behaving weirdly, and he begins to fear that he may have been hacked. Maybe the computer seems slower than normal, programs start running randomly on their own, or some system settings have apparently been changed. These could be indicators of compromise, but they could also be due to hardware issues, software bugs, or software bloat that has built up over time. It can be difficult to determine the root cause and to rule out the possibility that malware has been installed or other malicious activity has occurred, and without knowing for sure, users can feel anxious. Running antivirus software can help users have peace of mind and not jump to the conclusion that they have been hacked. Antivirus software is a program that scans files to identify malware. Windows ships with Microsoft Defender Antivirus and macOS ships with XProtect. These included antivirus programs are pre-configured and run by default and meet typical home computing needs. They can be turned off, but this is not advisable. Before antivirus software was built into operating systems, there was a major market for either free or paid antivirus programs. The market for these types of products is diminished since they provide at most only an incremental benefit over the pre-installed versions. However, Linux systems do not ship with built-in antivirus software, so Linux users should consider installing either a free or paid for product. Users
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM4ODY=