Protect yourself from Digital Infection and Virus free
Your computer is a very sophisticated machine and it is more than capable of doing
things that you have never dreamed of. No matter what speed your computer operates at, or its memory
capacity, it is at serious risk from the hidden threats that lurk underneath the internet, yes, the dreaded
computer virus. Although incomparable to swine flu, a PC virus can wreak havoc.
Do not underestimate the power of these rogue programs, they can destroy all your vital information
and even render your hardware useless. Even the most astute computer
users can get caught out by a virus.
A computer virus is a program that replicates itself, then seeks a new host to
infest.
The virus cannot exist on its own so it attaches to another program, usually an executable
one. Once there it replicates itself and drops its deadly payload, this can render your machine useless.
A worm is like a virus-it also replicates itself. However, it can stand on its own
and does not need another program to operate from. It usually infects your computer’s networking features, which
includes your internet connection.
Both of these can destroy your information, and your good name by sending out spam
by the sack full.
Spyware and adware go hand-in-hand. Spyware is a kind of program which gathers
information, specifically browsing habits. This is less threatening but a real pain to get rid of. It tracks down
what kind of sites you visit, and the adware will generate ads that fit with your interest which the spyware based
on information it gathered in the first place. You need to be an expert user to clean your system once
infected.
Malware is malicious software. It’s any program that is useless, or worse,
destructive. A Trojan a program pretending to be good but once it’s deep in your system it proves to be quite the
opposite. Some of these harmful beasts will silently connect your phone line to a premium rate offshore number
and run up a horrendous account, you don't even realise until you get your bill.
In spite of all their differences, they all have one thing in common: they are out to give you
headaches by rendering your computer unusable. Simply opening a web page can infect your computer, it's that
serious.
As your business grows, so does the value of the information you store on it. Start right
now to protect your computer as much as possible from being infected, here are four dangerous activities
that you should avoid, or at least minimize:
• Opening email attachments
Do not open any email attachments until they have been scanned by a good antivirus
software. Worms can spread through email, so even your trusted friends can unwittingly send you one by
way of an attachment.
• Internet File-sharing
In file-sharing via the internet, also know as P2P, your computer is exposed, and open to
infiltration by the others it is communicating with. If other computers’ files can be transferred to yours, the
same thing can be said about a virus, if the others are infected.
• Downloading free software of questionable origins
Free software is free for a reason, some of it is great, but some is riddled with the aware
equivalent of the bubonic plague!
When you read the End User License Agreement (EULA) of a software you are installing,
you should come upon a short and tiny clause saying that if you agree to the terms, you could
be allowing annoying advertisements to pop up on your screen, or other, nasty software to be installed in
your system. So be careful with what you download. Read product reviews and check out the forums to find out
if other people got headaches from using it.
• Visiting ad-heavy sites
If you visit a site and you’re immediately bombarded
with pop-up ads, leave immediately. These web sites exist solely to sell ads by every means possible, the owners
have no scruples, so you might well click on an ad that activates an automatic download of malicious software to
your computer.
Here is the minimum measure of protection that you will need:
• Download a good antivirus software. Going online without the protection of antivirus
software is like going out naked in a hurricane. That’s just how vulnerable an unprotected computer is.
• Once you have installed your antivirus software, set it to update your virus definitions daily,
this protects you from new and emerging strains of virus. because it runs in the background, without
disrupting your computer, because many of these products can really slow your system down, I recommend
AVG Professional Single
Edition
• Whatever your operating system is, keep it up to date, the market leader, Microsoft has an
update site here Windows Update.
• Most antivirus software packages, apart from the kill virus features include an internet
security program (also known as firewall). A firewall acts as a barricade between you and unwanted content from
the internet. When buying antivirus software, it’s better to shell out for the internet security as well.
Windows XP has a built in firewall, use it!
• Whatever browser you are using, check that its security settings are all in default unless you
really know what you are doing.
• Periodically delete files that you no longer need, try C cleaner. This is a free download and you can pay a donation if you want to, but
it's not compulsory. Originally titled crap cleaner, this handy tool will do just what it says and quickly,
clean off the unwanted junk from your system. It takes just a few seconds and is fully automatic.
• Back up all your important files all the time, I've seen too many broken hearts over not
implementing this simple procedure, make it a habit.
Don’t be totally dependent on removal tools and antivirus software packages,
though. A bit of prevention is always worth a megabyte of cure. The threat of infection will never go away, so make
sure you keep up to date with your own security measures.
It is always good practice to alert your friends to the virus warning, keeping their systems clean
will help to keep their emails clean too.
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