One of the most frequently asked questions that we receive at the Web Companion Malware Lab revolves around what Web Companion does and why a user would need this solution. The question always goes something like this: “I never visit adult sites or gambling sites, and I monitor my families’ activities, so why should I use Web Companion?” That is an excellent question and one that we will endeavour to answer in this article.
So where are all of these malicious websites?
First of all, while it is correct to say that some malicious adult content websites do exist – sites that are explicitly created to infect or rip off visitors, one should not believe that all malicious websites are adult-oriented or gambling websites. The reality is that it is really quite rare for these sites to be malicious in design. The majority of the time when they are malware websites, the reason is that hackers have hijacked them. The online criminal element goes to where the money is, and where they can generate the most amount of income in as little time and effort as possible regardless of the type of website.
The sad reality is that you are as likely to land on a malicious website while shopping for clothes online, booking a flight, or reading the latest Hollywood gossip as you would be scanning through an adult site. Malicious websites are everywhere!
In one of our previous blogs entitled “How to Use Web Companion” we discussed that the Web Companion solution uses the Adaware Malware URL Blocker technology to identify and block malicious websites before you land on them. Now that is important because if you are not vigilant while shopping online, it can result in data breaches, stolen credit card, and identity theft.
Note: The team from Adaware has also recently introduced a new solution to help reduce the threat of online shopping called PayAware. Please stay tuned as we will be releasing articles on PayAware shortly.
Keeping you safe online even when you are not there
Monitoring your family members and creating an open dialogue about screen-time limits and responsible online behavior is a significant first step, but let’s face it, it’s really tough to manage what your family members do when you’re not there. That is where Web Companion shines. The web protection, secure search and blacklist features in Web Companion can help you reinforce responsible online behavior for everyone.
Pop-ups everywhere
There is nothing worse than constantly seeing pop-up ads while browsing the Web; they may come from a variety of sources that may actually include your own computer. While many pop-up windows that you see are harmless, some may be quite dangerous and could cause irreparable harm to your system. Web Companion utilizes adaware ad block to eliminate malicious pop-ups before they can harm your system.
Keeping you focused on the tasks at hand
Preventing malware, pop-ups, and viruses from infecting your system is paramount for Web Companion, but some industrious users have found other unique uses for this tool in combination with the Adaware antivirus tool. During exam time we have had several users tell us that they temporarily blacklist all social media sites. This enables them to concentrate while working on the computer and not be distracted.
Online peace-of-mind
So what does Web Companion do? Web Companion is designed to ensure that you maximize all of the benefits from the Internet — while minimizing the risks associated with it. That is why for us your online peace-of-mind is key to our success.
Let us know how you use Web Companion, and we would love to spotlight you in an upcoming article.
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