How do I Protect my Computer Against Viruses?

How do I Protect my Computer Against Viruses?

If you are like most people these days, your computer is a pretty important part of your life. Whether you’re using it to play computer games, stay in touch with friends and family, pay bills, or even work, you need a functioning machine. Unfortunately if you get computer viruses, it can put your machine at risk, and also put your personal information and files at risk. Here are the most important steps you can take to protect computer from viruses so you can avoid significant computer repair at Computer Fix Salt Lake City.

Use an Antivirus Program

If you use your computer on the internet at all, you need an antivirus program. There are dozens of different antivirus programs available out there with varying degrees of efficacy, but the most important thing is that you get a program on your computer. Some of the ones that protect computers best also include anti-malware and anti-spyware programs. Without this protection, your machine could be vulnerable to malicious viruses, spyware, and malware that you encounter online. Once installed, be sure to keep it updated to protect against new viruses.

 

Avoid Suspicious Sites

Anyone can post a website online, which means that even computer hackers and users trying to spread computer viruses can put up websites. Often these sites will be designed to draw you in and have you click on an executable file (one that ends in a .exe), which can install the harmful programs on your computer. Avoid sites that are not well known to you, or that seem suspicious, and especially avoid clicking any links on those sites if you do find yourself there.

Email Attachments

Email attachments are one of the most common ways antiviruses are downloaded. If you get an attachment, be sure it’s something you were expecting, and it’s from a trusted source before you open it. In some cases an email may come from someone you know, but the attachment could still contain a virus, so if it seems like a suspicious attachment, contact the person to be sure they sent it to you before opening it. Never open an email attachment from someone you don’t know.

Use the Firewall

Today most computers come with firewalls that can block potential viruses, worms, and hackers from accessing your machine. The firewall may not be turned on by default, so when you start using a new machine, be sure to go into the “settings” and turn on the firewall if it is not already on.

Keep Operating Systems Updated

Your operating system runs the entire machine, and can include important security updates, so if you want to protect a computer from viruses, it’s best to have the most current version of your OS.

Computer repair is never fun, and the best way to ensure that you won’t need it on your machine is to protect the computer with the right software and hardware, then practice safe internet behavior that can keep you from mistakenly getting computer viruses on your machine. If you need information on the latest antivirus software or other protection measures for your computer, come talk to the experts at Computer Fix Salt Lake City.