These simple tips will help you stay virus and spyware free,
even if
you're connected to the internet 24 hours a day.
1. Protect yourself
Good protection on the Internet these days consists of 3
components:
anti-virus software, anti-spyware software and a firewall.
As for a firewall, Windows XP ships with a decent enough
firewall. Just
make sure it is always enabled. Alternatively you can visit a
site like
www.download.com and search for Zone Alarm, which has an
excellent free
version.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that you need to
keep your
anti-virus software up to date. An anti-virus program that uses
definitions that are months old is just about useless.
Update your anti-virus and anti-spyware software at least once a
week.
2. Stop opening every attachment you receive.
Most of the devastating worms and viruses of recent times were
distributed via email. These viruses feed on the curiosity and
also the
ignorance of a huge number of email users. People will get an
from fakename@weirdsuspiciousdomain and they'll just open
whatever file
is attached to it.
If you don't know the sender, don't open the attachment - just
delete
it. It doesn't matter if the subject promises you'll see Britney
Spears
dancing nude on the kitchen table, just delete it.
If the email is from someone you know, always scan any
attachments
first before downloading or opening them.
If every email user in the world followed these simple
guidelines the
distribution of viruses via email will grind to a halt.
3. Stay clear of pornographic and illegal software sites
If you want to pick up viruses and spyware quickly, visit some
pornographic web sites. One wrong click on a subtle little
pop-up or
security warning window (which you'll run into often on these
type of
sites) and you'll have infested yourself with trojan horses,
spyware,
dialers and other unfavorable software that could leave your
computer
wide open to further attacks.
The same goes for web sites distributing software, serial codes
and
cracks illegally (warez).
Simply put - keep out of the dark side of the web and the odds
of
keeping your computer clean shifts decidedly in your favor.
4. Watch out what you download
Spyware is embedded in a lot of software on the Internet -
especially
those related to ripping, converting and playing music and
videos. That
free MP3 player or DVD Ripper you just downloaded may have
installed a
bunch of harmful spyware without you even knowing about it.
5. Keep yourself informed
Major anti-virus software developers like Symantec and Grisoft
updates
their sites regularly with the latest virus alerts. Visit these
sites
frequently to keep yourself aware of what threats are doing the
rounds
and how to avoid them.
Using this simple software I have kept my computer virus-free
for
the past 3 years. It's not rocket science. Just stay alert, use
some
common sense and you too can stay bug free while still enjoying
your
Internet experience.
About the author:
By William McRand Sr 1908 Clinton Ave Mobile AL 36617 Your P.C.
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