The word “virus” sends a shiver down people’s spine. Whether it’s a human or computer virus, no one wants to have anything to do with viruses.
There are many reasons people should worry about an attack while surfing the web. Activities of cybercriminals keep rising, and security experts can only do little to stop them from striking.
These hackers would stop at nothing to ruin their victims’ lives. On top of that, cybercriminals are always busy looking for ways to take control of their victim’s devices.
Now, this takes us back to the question. You probably would be asking this right now as you surf the web.
Can you get a virus from just visiting a website?
Yes, you can. Years ago, the only possible way to get a virus or malware was to download or click links with malware embedded in them. But that has changed. Cybercriminals are now smarter. They have devised means to infect mobile phones and computers with viruses without the user downloading or clicking a link.
Like human viruses, tons of computer viruses also exist. And some viruses don’t require downloading or waiting for users to click on a link before infecting a device. These viruses use exploit kits (EK) to download themselves to the device. The virus then searches for applications requiring updating and looks for any possible loophole.
You can get infected with a virus by visiting a website. That’s the plain truth. Hackers could decide to hide malware on a site that doesn’t have an SSL certificate.
So that’s the answer to the question, but we’re just getting started. Continue reading to know more.
Do All Unsecured Website Have a Virus?
The straightforward answer is no. The website owner has total control and may decide if they want to incorporate malware into links. Getting the SSL certificate isn’t also a problem. So an unsecured website can become secured whenever the owner pleases.
There are millions of unsecured websites out there, considered harmless. You won’t get a virus by visiting such websites. It doesn’t matter whether you downloaded an application or clicked a link. However, you need to be careful when visiting a website that doesn’t have an SSL certificate.
Hackers can easily hide malware or virus in such websites without you knowing. And without even downloading a thing, your computer system or mobile device could get infected.
Google hates unsecured websites. That’s the bitter truth. Without the SSL certificate, any information shared on the website would not be encrypted. Thus, hackers could easily intercept information and harm the sender.
This explains why it’s not right to provide sensitive information on an unsecured website. These include information regarding your credit card, phone number, home address, social security number, health record, and so on.
Dangerous Websites You Should Avoid To Stay Virus-free
The internet is the home of the good and the bad. It’s awash with tons of malicious websites. So if you’re not careful, you can get infected with malware that would damage your computer or mobile device.
Identifying dangerous websites can be tricky. Most people can only find out through reviews from others or when they get infected.
To keep your website virus-free, here are a couple of websites you should never visit. Even when you visit them, do so with care.
Explicit websites
Explicit website’s content attracts millions of people. Over 78 million people visit these websites daily. So hackers know such websites are hotcakes. They know they can easily find tons of prey here. Most hackers even have explicit websites created to lure users.
To use an explicit website or watch videos, users have to click links. You may also be required to click on the play button of videos to watch them. During the process, a virus or malware could infect your computer system.
Video downloading websites
A new film just hit the cinema, and like always, you want to be the first to watch it among your peers. You can’t wait for it to be on Netflix. Or perhaps, you don’t have the money to pay to watch a movie online.
Video downloading websites allows users to watch movies free of charge. The question is, are these websites harmless? Most of them are. But you can’t just conclude a website is virus-free.
That’s the plain truth. Most of these sites offer links to watch or download movies free of charge. In return, they hide malware in the content.
By clicking on such links, you will automatically download malware into your computer system without knowing. So be careful. Avoid video downloading sites if you can.
A Handy Tip: Not every video downloading website is bad news. Some offer free movies and don’t hide malware in links.
So, how do you know if a video-downloading website is trust-worthy? Consider their reputation. What are people saying about them? What’s their history with regards to malware or virus attack?
If you dig deeper, you will have enough clues to make an informed decision.
Websites that appear too good to be true
If you’re observant, you will be able to sniff a dangerous website from miles away. You don’t have to be a programmer, software engineer or computer enthusiast to figure that out.
Most dangerous websites offer prices that are almost impossible to turn down. You will find some offering Gucci handbags and items from other top brands at ridiculously low prices.
So, watch out for these kinds of websites. If the prices of new items sold on the platform are ridiculously low, that’s a red flag.
The reason for the low price could also be the quality of the items sold. They could be counterfeit Gucci handbag, etc.
Email attachments from unknown persons
Emails can also come packed with viruses without you knowing. You won’t find any trace of virus or malware until you hit the download button.
So avoid downloading files from emails sent by people you barely know. Many of such emails are from hackers. These people have succeeded in hacking tons of companies and carted away sensitive documents and money.
If your clients want to send emails to you, ask them to paste downloadable files and not link to download the files. These include images, videos, documents, excel sheet and so on. Do not click on any link.
Ways To Know Your Computer Has A Virus After Visiting A Website
From a slow system to pop-up windows, there are many indicators that your system has been infected with a virus. These signs may also mean something different. That’s knowing an infected system can be very tricky.
But here are some of the ways you can tell if your computer or mobile device has a virus.
Slow applications
Does the application on your device take time to load? If yes, then the probable cause could be a malware attack. Malware’s way of acting is to slow down a device’s operating system.
However, other factors can slow down your applications. So it is better to investigate the cause before drawing your conclusions.
Other factors that can slow down applications or delay their starting time are low RAM, browser utilizing too many resources at a time, and outdated Windows operating system.
Annoying ads displaying on your screen
Do unexpected pop-up windows show up on your device’s screen when browsing the internet? Then your device may have malware.
This type of malware is usually called “spyware.” What it does is steal sensitive information from users. And they are difficult to remove from the device.
A Handy Tip: If you’re experiencing these sudden pop-ups, avoid clicking any link or replying to malicious emails. That’s one of the right steps to take. You should never click on any suspicious pop-up window, as doing so will give malware access to get into your device.
Homepage changes on its own
Your homepage keeps changing, and you’re not the one that initiated it. Has this ever happened to you? Then you’re likely facing a malware attack. You could even find a new toolbar on your device, which you can’t remember downloading.
When you click on suspected links or pop-ups, you automatically trigger the malware-infected application to download and install itself on your computer.
A Handy Tip: The malware infection could be deeper than you think. Therefore, using a less powerful antivirus is not advisable. Use next-gen and top-notch security solution to get rid of the malware.
Conclusion
Can you get a virus by visiting a website? Yes, you can. Gone are the days where you have to download a file or click on a link to get infected. Hackers have developed other means of infecting mobile and computer devices just by visiting a website.
If you want to remain safe when surfing the web, it’s advisable to avoid unsecured websites. Businesses should caution their employees not to visit explicit and other dangerous websites with company computer.
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