10 Tips to Protect Your Computer from Virus

by Jeniffer Leio Excutive

Computers are used to store and retrieve information. Even then, dangers lurk here. There are a number of hackers and cybercriminals who tend to steal the data and maliciously infect the computer systems. Computer viruses enter into the computer system covertly and they have the potential to steal sensitive information like passwords and bank card details. It has thus become vital to keep the safety and security of your computer system uncompromised.

Here are ten tips which you can follow to protect your computer from virus:

Install trusted antivirus software

Installing good antivirus software should be the first and foremost step to protect your computer from viruses. Antivirus software prevents the viruses from entering into the computer. They scan the entire computer system and check for any virus, worms, malware, spyware, Trojan horse, etc. It offers protection on a real-time basis.

Update your antivirus software

If you think that just installing an antivirus program and then forgetting about it will keep your system secure, then you are wrong. Hackers and cybercriminals are evolving each day and they are coming up with new ways to infect the system. Updating your antivirus software regularly will make sure that your AV software is up-to-date. The cybercriminals sometimes exploit the bugs present in the software, updating the software ensures that these bugs get fixed.

Don’t automatically download email attachments

If you get an email from an unrecognized sender, then do not download the attachment without first scanning it. Malwares spread through emails and the ILOVEYOU virus was a shining example of that. Report mails from untrusted sources as spam.

Regularly back up your computer

Backing up your computer on a regular basis is crucial to protect it from viruses. You should create two backups- online and offline. Viruses threaten the integrity of data. Apart from stealing it, sometimes they alter and erase it. If you do not have a backup and a cybercriminal encrypts your data for ransom, you will have to pay to get your data unencrypted.

Don’t click on links within emails and pop-ups

Viruses can enter your system by clicking on links or pop-up ads. If you do not recognize the source of the email then do not click on the link in it. Emails with poor grammar and formatting are mostly either scams or they contain virus. Pop-up ads which say that you have won money can also infect your computer.

Use strong and unique passwords

Managing your password smartly is crucial for keeping your computer and data safe and secure. Use a unique password for each of your online account. Avoid using dictionary words because they are incredibly easy to guess. Create a strong password which has a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, special characters, and numbers.

Use a firewall

Antivirus software and firewall makes a great team against computer security. Firewall acts as a filter and they do not allow any threatening information to enter the system. They run on specific guidelines in order to block viruses. Software firewall prevents the virus from spreading.

Do not download free games and music

Downloading files from untrusted sources should be avoided to be on the safer side. Any website which allows free music downloads illegally is very suspicious. Do not download any executable program from unreliable sources i.e. files ending with .exe and .com extension. If in any case, you need to download the files, make sure that you scan before running them.

Do not keep sensitive data on your computer

Avoid storing sensitive information on your computer like your bank details, credit card details, passwords, etc. To take this further, do not share your username and passwords with anyone. Browsers cannot be trusted with passwords and credit card details. Hence, do not save your passwords, etc on your browser.

Use latest version of web browser

It is important to update your web browser to the latest version. Web browsers may contain bugs which can be exploited by hackers. Hackers tend to compromise web browsers by either creating fake websites or infecting genuine websites. Therefore, using the latest version of web browser will maximize your computer’s security.

Karim Salem, the writer of this article is an experienced digital marketing professional with a keen interest in writing on Norton, McAfee, Webroot updates and more. With all his articles and blogs, he focuses on making the readers aware of the latest as well as upcoming technologies in this domain.

Source:https://247tollfree.com/blog/tips-to-protect-your-computer-from-virus/