FIVE WAYS TO KEEP YOUR PC VIRUS FREE

By AK. Udofeh

It once happened to
me, it happens to the best of us, it can happen to the worst of us. And when
infected, it feels like your world has just fallen apart. Call the doctor and
head for the hospital: you've just been infected by a computer virus that's
erasing your entire hard drive, as you speak. All because you are fond of
inserting that flash drive of yours into that cyber café’s system or you like
to keep your system unprotected.

Now it’s time to
protect yourself before this happens, so take the necessary steps to make your
computer virus-free.



There are simple steps to take, but remember that even if you do follow these
steps diligently, you're still at risk of being infected with a virus; these
steps will simply lower your chances of contracting a computer virus.



Before arming yourself with all the necessary preventative measures, you need
to know what you're up against.

 WHAT IS A
VIRUS?

 This question has been asked more often by computer
newbies than always expected. Now note this: A virus is described as a piece of
code, (usually written to create a negative effect) that attaches itself to a
program or file under the guise of something positive, and spreads to other
files, program systems, or other recipients, without the user's consent or
knowledge.



FIVE WAYS TO PROTECT YOURSELF

1 – Install Operating System Security
Update

No matter the
operating system you use, it has flaws/bugs/issues/etc. This is because it was
written by a human and humans are not perfect.  So, as new bugs/exploits
are found and patches for those updates are released, it’s CRITICAL that you
make sure your computer is protected by installing the latest security updates
from Microsoft or any other OS provider (Apple, Linux etc…) you may be
using.  If you’re an apple user I can see your smirk from here because you
think MAC’s operating system don’t have any security issues, right?  Think
again – Apple tells Mac users: Get anti-virus.

2 – Install a quality Anti-Virus
Application

With so many high
quality FREE anti-virus applications available for most operating systems, you
have no excuse to be running with no Anti-Virus software. The recommendation
is:  Keep things simple and use Microsoft’s free anti-virus client. 
If you’re not a Microsoft Windows user you can visit a nearby Apple store and
grab one that works for your Mac.  By running AV software, you’re not just
protecting yourself; you are also protecting the community.

3 – Keep your
Anti – Virus App. Updated with the latest virus signatures / definitions

New Viruses / malicious
software is created and spread around the internet daily.  In order to
combat this, Anti-Virus (AV) companies update their software so they can detect
and block - possibly - the malicious software from infecting your
computer.  AV companies call these updates either “Signatures” or “Definitions”
depending on the product you use.

In the past it was
OK to update your computer once a week or once a month with these new AV
definitions, however in today’s climate you really should have your
AV application set to update daily or hourly if possible in order to
protect your system from the latest threats.  

4 – Install a good Anti-spyware / Adware /
Malware application

Some might argue
that if you have a good AV application installed, you don’t need to worry about
installing a specific Anti-Spyware / Adware application.  Personally, I
believe in protecting my systems using layers of security.  If one layer
misses something due to an old Virus Signature, the next layer might get
it.  So, with that in mind, I like to install an Anti-Spyware application
along with an Anti-Virus application just for the added layer of
security.  Despite all the negative press from the Vista days due to
performance issues… Windows Defender has actually worked well on my Windows 7 system
with little to no impact on system performance. Another good option if you want
a different set of Signature files between your Anti-Virus App and your
Anti-Spyware App is SpyBot Search and Destroy.

5 – Routine
system maintenance

Backup, yes backing
up your important data can save the head ache of losing your important files in
the event of an unforeseen occurrence. No matter how many precautions you take,
having a solid and reliable backup is a must have.  If you’re not backing
up your system today, stop what you’re doing and take the
steps necessary to get a full system backup now!  What should
you use?  There are a thousand and one different options.
 If you prefer to keep your backup close, go grab a USB drive and create a
system image.  If you prefer to back up to the cloud and only care about a
few gigs of data, go grab drop box, so whichever option you choose, don’t
delay.  Get a good backup of your data today and keep it updated.

BOTTOM LINE

It’s pertinent to
note that this list is in-exhaustive. As already stated it’s about doing a lot
of little things and using common sense coupled with finding a comprehensive
Security Guide on the internet. That notwithstanding, if you notice something
very important that I missed, please contribute and drop your tips in the
comments below and I’ll do my best to quickly add it to the lists in the future
articles.

 BE
PRUDENT

Being prudent in
your use of the internet implies that you always remember that viruses often
attach themselves to files that you download off the Internet, so it’s always
advised that you ensure you know what you're downloading, and whether it's from
a reputable and trustworthy website. Also, ascertain that you know where a
flash drive has been before you insert it into your system, and make sure you
trust whoever is sending you e-mail and attachments.

Speaking of
e-mail, it can be a computer infection waiting to happen. Try to avoid opening
attachments that end with .exe, .com, .vbt extensions, and always watch out for
the subject headers. Remember that a subject line "Congratulations From
Me" may seem innocent, but it could be one of those Trojan horses - A
dangerous virus (referred to as worm) that wreak havoc in your computer by
destroying files or changing data.

Be cautious if you
don't recognize the sender, and even if you do recognize the sender, since they
may not know that they sent you the e-mail (some viruses automatically send
themselves to everyone in your address book). If you're unsure, you can always
ask the sender to find out whether they intended to send you the e-mail you
received.



As long as you don't open the attachment itself, you're considered safe.
Therefore, opt for an e-mail program that has a preview pane, which allows you
to read the e-mail without actually opening it. If it looks suspicious, delete
it from your inbox and permanently delete it from your "Deleted
Messages" folder. You don't want any viruses lingering.

 So stay
safe, be smart and don’t be an internet victim.