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Tips to Stay Virus Free
- Keep yourself as protected as possible against nasty intruders!
Viruses and other malicious programs are created specifically to find their way into your system and cause harm to your information. Some even report confidential information such as passwords and account numbers back to the person who wrote the virus. Though this sounds scary, there are several steps you can take to keep your computer safe.
Install Anti-Virus Programs and Keep Them Up to Date
The most crucial step to keeping your computer safe is to install trusted anti-virus software. Symantec offers several solutions depending on your specific needs. Symantec End-Point Protection, for example, is great for networks that need basic virus scanning across all their platforms. Norton 360 is Symantec’s residential Anti-Virus which is designed to run on one system at a time. Read more about Symantec products here. McAfee and Trend Micro are also good antivirus programs that should keep you relatively safe.
Remember that new viruses are written everyday. Good anti-virus programs release updates at least weekly to defend against these new viruses. Be sure to keep yours up to date!
Examine Each Email Attachment Before You Open It
Many viruses are spread through email attachments. They may claim to be a greeting card from a friend or a “package undeliverable” message from a postal carrier etc. Never open an attachment unless you are absolutely sure you trust the sender and their attachment. Even emails seemingly from your friends may contain harmful programs. When in doubt, always reply to the message asking if the attachment is safe before you open it. If you don’t hear back or the sender replies back asking “what attachment?” then you know the email is fraudulent!
Be Prudent When Surfing the Web
Many harmful programs can get into your system simply by you visiting a website. Most well-known websites such as Google and Yahoo are safe. If a website has a strange address, though, such as “3ab56.example.com,” you should be wary. Many anti-virus programs provide a service known as “link-scanning.” They will scan each link on a webpage before you click on it to let you know whether it is safe or not to visit.
If Something Asks You to “Click Here,” Think Twice
Anti-Virus software can't always protect you if you unwittingly invite the virus into your PC. If a window pops up and tells you to click on it, think twice! Before clicking, make sure it is a trusted program. If there are spelling errors or if the popup is asking for money, these are clear indications that it is fraudulent. Legitimate services will not ask for money or credit card information and will always have spell-checked their messages. Just because the logo looks familiar does not mean it is safe - many virus-laden popups use Microsoft or legitimate bank logos to fool consumers. If you see a popup that you are not sure about, do not click or close it until you speak with one of our support specialists.
Never Send Money – Ever
Other than purchasing a trusted program, legitimate software will never ask you for money in order to protect your system. Also, if you receive an email from an expatriated Prince who is asking for money you should not send him anything. And if you did not enter a contest, you cannot have won it! These scams are designed to prey on the kind-hearted, such as you. Do not fall victim. If you receive an email that you think may be fraudulent you should google some keywords from the email. Chances are that other people have received this same message and have written warnings about it on the internet. Do your research.
What to Do If You Think You Are Already Infected
Stay smart and keep your wits about you. Viruses often look worse than they are. The first thing you should do is to call your network administrator or our technical support department and describe your symptoms. It is not recommended that you shut down your computer since many viruses require you to reboot or relogin to become fully harmful. However, if you are concerned that your virus may spread to other computers on your network you may disconnect your network cable from the back of your computer or from the wall.
If you are worried that your identity may have been stolen you should contact your bank immediately and put halts on your bank accounts. There are also numerous organizations which exist to help someone who has fallen victim to identity theft. The Federal Trade Commission has a website available here with many tips and suggestions to avoid identity theft and the steps you can take to recover from theft.
Also remember we here at CompuCorp deal with clients' viruses everyday. If you have questions about the integrity of your system, give us a call at 614-792-2667 or email us at support@compucorp.net.