Protect Your Computer From Viruses

January 29, 2011 by Leave a Comment

There is nothing more frustrating than finding out that cool video you downloaded from the internet and sent to all your friends, actually had a Trojan embedded inside it.  You probably lost a few friends and a lot of money as well.  Viruses, spyware, and malware run rampant on the web and hackers are getting better at disguising them.  The only way to make sure that you will never get a virus is to never get on the internet.  Did you just laugh?  Most people would, everyone is on the internet now days.  Let’s look at some tips that will keep you somewhat safe from viruses, although no plan is foolproof.

Use good antivirus software that comes from a reputable manufacturer.  Be sure you operating system are up-to date so that the antivirus software runs efficiently.  If your operating system is not up-to date, your software may not pick up all viruses.  The best way to do this is run updates regularly or set your computer to run automatic updates for both your system and the software.

Avoid downloads from sites you are not familiar with or that offer products that are questionable.  Stay away from sites that offer you a product for free that you would normally have to pay for.  Never download software from the internet that you are unfamiliar with.  Avoid clicking on the cute ads that ask you to play a game to win a prize, like the shoot the ducks ad.

We hear this one every day, do not open any email if you do not know who sent it or if it looks questionable.  It is good advice.  You know the saying, “Curiosity killed the cat”?  Well curiosity could certainly kill your computer or at the very least injure it.  So if you are in doubt, just do not open the email.

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Best Antivirus For your PC and Smartphone

December 7, 2010 by Leave a Comment

With increasing monetary transactions taking place online, computers connected to the internet have never been this vulnerable. Any computer without an antivirus is in danger of its data stolen or worse used by some terrorist to send a remote mail from your computer. If not viruses then there are thousands of different kinds of Trojans, spywares, worms and other blasphemies that intrude your operating system and files you might have downloaded using FileZilla or other FTP software.  The assumption that only a windows based operating system is vulnerable is wrong. Any computer connected to the internet is vulnerable, or even a USB drive with a virus from another computer is enough to infect a computer. Hence it is important that you find a good antivirus that helps you protect your computer and the files you might transfer via File Zilla or other programs. Any virus attack can seriously slowdown a computer and cause a lot of time wastage. Some viruses go so deep into the operating system that there is no way to get rid of them other than formatting the entire hard disk.

There are hundreds of antiviruses that are meant to protect your computer for big software companies as well as small unknown companies. Some antiviruses that are available freely on the internet are themselves viruses cum spywares that steal your documents and credit card pin codes. Things that you need to look for before you make your choice of antivirus are things such as scope of protection, effectiveness, ease of installation, ease of use, feature, upgrades and constant customer support. Different antiviruses have different types of protection i.e some just protect against Trojans and some just protect against worms. Hence choose one which is good at protecting against everything. Many antiviruses provide additional features such as pop up blocker, dialers, fire walls, phishing protection, cookie blocking, browser security and others. Look for the one which fits your use. Another important part that can help you decide is the processing speed that an antivirus will take in the background, the lesser the better, along with more protection.

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How to Avoid Computer Problems

August 14, 2010 by Leave a Comment
SVOA computers -- Khonkaen, Thailand
Image via Wikipedia

Computers are invaluable in conducting business affairs and staying in touch with friends and family. These machines can also greatly simplify your life. However, viruses and other issues can quickly turn a helpful computer into a costly and stressful repair job. Here are a few tips for avoiding common computer problems to keep your machine in working order.

One of the first things you should do after purchasing a personal computer is install anti-virus software on it if you will be accessing the Internet. New viruses are continually being created and can cause major damage to unprotected computers. This damage, if repairable, can be very costly and stressful to fix. Many versions of anti-virus software exist and most work equally well.

Second, always use caution when eating or drinking near the computer. Although you may think you will never spill on the machine, mistakes can happen. One small liquid spill on a laptop computer could mean a loss of all your data and unfixable damage. If possible, use lids on all beverages near the computer or just skip mealtime at the computer in the future.

You may not be able to prevent all problems from occurring with the machine and this is why regularly scheduled backups are crucial to prevent lost data. Several methods for data backup exist and it really doesn’t matter which one you choose, just begin backing up as soon as possible.

Another way to keep the machine running smoothly is to occasionally power off the system. Some people never take the time to shut down their computers and this can begin wearing down the machine after a while. Establish a habit of powering down the computer every evening or whenever works best for you.

Hopefully by following these tips, you can avoid the most common computer problems. This can help save on the cost of purhcasing a new computer to replace a broken one and can prevent the hassle of dealing with lost data.

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Stay Safe When You Download Software

July 25, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Anytime you choose to get software from the Internet, there’s a risk of problems. Viruses, malware, and spyware are often hidden in downloads for various products. Because of that, many people prefer to get their software programs from a retailer instead of downloading them. Not all programs are available that way, however, and if you’re in a hurry and really need the product right that moment, going and getting the software from a retailer might not even be realistic. For any software download, make sure that you go to a reputable site that you recognize and that your virus program doesn’t flag for problems.

If you aren’t sure about a site, don’t use it. If the software is popular, there will be other places you can download it – and you can pick a safer site that works for you. You should have an anti-virus software on your computer. It’s also good to have anti-malware and anti-spyware programs, so you don’t end up with a problem from downloading something. When you download software, be careful what it really is and where you get it from. Also, watch out for sites that require you to install a tool bar or that want to add other programs to what you’re downloading.

Sites like that can cause problems for you and your computer, and they can also send spam to your email contacts or erase your hard drive if they have viruses in them. Most of these sites where you can get software aren’t deliberately trying to cause you problems, but they don’t always screen things as closely as they could. In order to download software safely, it’s a good idea to go to the Website that actually makes the program. If it’s not designed by a larger company, do your research on the site before you download from it.

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