Never Click Suspicious LinksĬlicking on suspicious links can lead to a variety of issues, including pornware infections. And if you accidentally come across a website that appears to be some sort of scam or is being used to spread malware, make sure you do your part and report it. No matter how good your antivirus software and browser are, if you frequent shady websites, you're asking for trouble: stay away. Not only will this help protect you against pornware and other threats it will also go a long way in preserving your privacy. Instead of using whatever the default browser on your device is, consider a more secure alternative such as Brave or Firefox.

Your browser is your window to the World Wide Web, so it can make all the difference when it comes to security. Called Varenyky, the malware was initially used to send out spam offers, but the hacker group behind it eventually started using it to record the victims' desktops whenever they visited a certain adult site, then blackmailed and extorted the victims. In 2019, researchers at the cybersecurity firm ESET discovered a dangerous pornware that was targeting users of Orange S.A., a French internet service provider.

But in some cases, that would be the least of your troubles. If your device is infected with this type of pornware, you will encounter NSFW (Not Safe for Work) ads everywhere, or potentially get redirected to certain adult sites, and in doing so generate ad revenue for the perpetrator. Today, pornware mostly revolves around serving unsolicited, adult advertisements. Once on the victim's computer, these malicious programs would repeatedly dial premium numbers, and rack up the phone bill. Years ago, when everyone used dial-up internet (connected to the web through a phone line), porn-dialers were fairly common. It comes in different forms, but some variants are significantly more dangerous than others. As the name suggests, pornware is a type of malware that delivers pornographic content to a user's device.

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