How To Protect Your Computer From Viruses

Computers are like humans too, they can get infected with viruses. They also need to be protected from these viruses.

A computer virus is a computer program that can copy itself and infect a computer. It is also a type of malware, short for malicious software. Other types of malware that can infect computers include Trojan Horses, and computer worms. A worm can exploit security vulnerabilities to spread itself automatically to other computers through networks, while a Trojan horse is a program that appears harmless but hides malicious functions. Worms and Trojan horses, like viruses, may harm a computer system's data or performance.

A computer virus can spread from one computer to another when its host is taken to the target computer. A computer can get infected through a network or internet. It can also get infected through a removable medium, such as floppy disks, CD and DVD ROMs, flash disks, external HDD, and other USB drives.

There are numerous ways to prevent a computer from getting infected with viruses.

1. Turn on the security features in the Microsoft Windows Security Center, and keep your computer updated

2. Install anti-virus softwares, such as Kaspersky, and Norton anti-virus. You may also download anti-virus for free that can do the job. An example of this is Avast, which is good for home based PC virus protection.

3. Download files only from trusted sites. Most files downloaded from game sites and torrent sites are riddled with viruses.

4. Install only from authentic CDs. In general, installing software from authentic, commercially distributed CDs is the safest method.

5. Back up your data regularly. If a virus erases or corrupts files on your hard disk, a recent backup may be the only way to recover your data. Back up your entire system regularly. Back up files that you can't afford to lose.

6. Don't reuse disks that have been in other computers, don't download files from insecure sites, and don't open e-mail attachments unless you are expecting them. Be wary of messages and attachments, even from people you know, with vague subject lines and contents, such as 'Check this' or 'See these pics!!!'

7. Employ extra caution when you receive attachments that end in the commonly used extensions .doc, .exe, .com, .xls or .ppt. Never open attachments that end in .vbs or .js, since a typical user would never have a reason to open these files.

8. Be cautious about what disks and files you accept from other people.