5 Tips on How to Prevent Computer Viruses

Every time you use the Internet you run the risk of getting a computer virus. It may sound hard to believe, but it’s true. With so many pop-ups and spam emails, the risk is high.

A computer virus can have a negative impact on your computer. It’s best to be proactive to prevent them.

Do you know how to prevent computer viruses? Don’t know how to prevent them?

No worries! Read on to learn five great tips that you can use to prevent computer viruses.

1. Educate Yourself 

The first thing you need to do to prevent computer viruses is to educate yourself about them. Let’s start with the basics.

What’s a computer virus? Computer viruses make up one of the many classes of malware. Malware is malicious software that’s harmful to a computer.

Viruses can infect a computer with their codes. Over time, viruses evolve often making them harder to prevent.

Common types of viruses to be on the look out for include the direct action virus and the boot sector virus. These viruses can wreak havoc on any computer system.

Are you an IT worker? If you’re one, it’s your job to educate employees about computer viruses. Start with awareness and training. It’s the best way to protect against viruses.

Build cybersecurity awareness by teaching them how a virus can infect a computer. Part of this process should include conducting regular training for all employees. They need to learn about the latest trends in this area so they can be alert.

2. Avoid Suspicious Websites

When you visit a website, do you ever think it’s safe? It’s time to get into the habit of doing it. Before you visit one, take the time to determine if it’s safe to go in.

Sometimes it may be impossible to see right away if a website is suspicious. There are things you can do to reduce the risk of visiting a website that can give you a virus. It’s all in the details, so pay attention.

First, look at the website’s URL. Is it the real deal? Be sure to check with official sources to determine if it’s the website you’re trying to access.

For example, what if it’s your first time trying to log in to your bank’s website? Consider calling the bank to speak with a rep. Ask the rep to provide you with their official website.

You’ll have to take a few extra steps, but it’s worth it. You don’t want to get a virus this way.

3. Beware of Email Phishing Scams

It’s the oldest trick in the book. Be careful when opening emails, especially the ones that an unknown person sends you. An email can look all legit, but it may not be the case.

You may get an email from a legit company, but the ones that actually send the email are hackers. The goal is to get your personal information. The hackers will use it for fraudulent activities.

If you click a link in the email, the hackers can gain access to your computer. Once they’re in, there’s no telling what they can do with your personal information.

Never send money to unknown people. You may receive an email with a link asking for money. Don’t do it as it’s a fraud.

There are signs that can signal if an email is a scam. Signs include misspellings and poor grammar. Suspicious attachments are a major red flag.

As if it isn’t enough bad news, you can get a virus by opening an email from a person you know. Yes, it’s quite possible for a friend to send you a virus without your friend knowing.

As a rule of thumb, don’t click on an email that looks suspicious. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

4. Use Antivirus Software

The basis of virus protection is having high-quality antivirus software. You only need to have one installed on your computer.

Here’s one thing you need to keep in mind. Your antivirus software will only be effective if you’re able to keep it up-to-date. New viruses are out every day, so there’s no point in having old antivirus software.

Most antivirus software programs undergo an update. Make sure the one you buy undergoes frequent updates.

You don’t want to experience hassles with the updates. The updates should take place in the early morning around 2 AM. This is less likely to affect any of your activities.

Having an extra layer of protection is ideal. Install a firewall as well. A firewall will scan Internet traffic for viruses.

What if you own a Mac computer? You might say, “There’s no way my Mac computer can get a virus!”

Even a Mac computer can get a virus. It’s a good idea to have a virus scan on mac computers.

5. Install a Pop-Up Blocker

Most computer viruses can infect your computer as you browse the Internet. This is a favorite method among hackers that seek to gain access to your computer. They might insert a virus in an ad.

If you click on the ad, the virus will spread in a matter of seconds. The same goes if you click on a link that contains a virus.

The best way to deal with this is to install an ad or pop-up blocker. It’ll help protect the data on your computer.

You should know not to click on or open any link you aren’t familiar with. Never download anything that you believe can infect your computer with a virus.

Use This Guide To Learn How To Prevent Computer Viruses

Getting a computer virus is the absolute worst! Now that you know how to prevent computer viruses, you can take action to protect your computer from them. Remember that the defense starts with you.

Make sure to explore the rest of our blog to continue reading more great articles.