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.