MyPCHealth

How to reduce the risk of contracting computer viruses, adware and malware.

I have been looking around the internet in search of safe surfing habits but most are directed at keeping children safe online. That is great, but I thought I would write a document that helps anyone with their surfing habits and how to reduce the risk of contracting viruses, trojans, adware and malware.

Now I use the term reduce as it’s impossible to completely protect yourself from all these infections. The reason being is the protection business is mostly a reactive one. This means they create a fix for a problem once it arises. It’s very difficult to produce a fix for something that doesn’t exist! That being said here is some information on how to equip yourself when going online.

Protect your computer.

• Firstly you need to make sure the computer is protected. This means install an antivirus program and antispyware program (what is a computer Virus?). There are various free ones out there. Please check out our free tools pages for free to download ones. However it is better to pay for a more complete protection, the saying goes “you get what you pay for”. Do not install more than 1 Antivirus program as this will impede performance.
• Make sure windows firewall is turned on. (Click Start, click Run, type Firewall.cpl, and then click OK, On the General tab, click On (recommended), Click OK.) - (what is a firewall)
• Make sure windows is up to date with latest service packs and patches.

Surfing Habits.

• First make sure you have phishing protection on. (what is phishing?) To Turn it on see here
• Popups sometimes have redirects or harmful content. If the site can’t have their content on a normal page then why is that? I would be suspicious, so I would make sure popups are disabled.
• If your surfing and a window popups and will not let you use the red cross to close it (might give you a yes or no question) do not click either. Hold ctrl alt and press delete then select task manager. Highlight the page from the list in the application tab and click end task. Clicking yes or no may give the site access to install something on your computer.
• Sites where you can get free items that normally you have to pay for such as Music and videos are often full of spyware. Avoid them like the plague.
• Adult content sites can sometimes have malicious software attached so be warned.
• If warned by a search engine that the site has potentially unsafe downloads its best to go to another. There are so many sites out there that avoiding a few will not make any difference.

Downloading

• Down loading and installing file sharing is where most problems start. File sharing opens up your computer to be infected. People use file sharing to exchange programs, music, videos etc. Which also means infections can be shared. If you want music or videos buying it from a reputable site will ensure your computers safety.
• If warned by a search engine that the site has potentially unsafe downloads its best to go to another. There are so many sites out there that avoiding a few will not make any difference.
• If you do want to download something. Try reading some reviews first. It may give you an idea if there’s problems with it.

Protecting you against malicious emails.

• Do not open any emails from sources you do not know.
• Do not click on links from sources you do not know.
• Even if an email is from a person you know, be aware their computer may be compromised so if it’s an email about free money, or you’ve won a competition, be very wary.
• If you are unsure, it’s best not to open it.

Click here to find out information on how to surf the web and purchase safetly online.