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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.
Good virus protection doesn't need to cost you a fortune. You can
get excellent free anti-virus software at www.grisoft.com. Even the
professional version of their software is very affordable.
For spyware protection, go to www.lavasoft.de and download Ad-Aware
SE Personal, also free. This will zap the most common spyware and
adware found on the Internet.
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
email 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 these simple and software I have kept my computer virus-free
for the past 2 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.(read
how to choose the best Spyware Blocker)
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