Viruses in computers have become omnipresent these days. Whenever you use your computer, you run a risk of getting your computer affected by a virus attack. Those who frequently use internet run a higher risk. Whenever your computer gets affected by a virus, it will slow down, or may stop functioning completely. If this phenomenon occurs, it means your computer has crashed under a virus attack. As the adage goes “Prevention is better than cure”, you can also protect your computer beforehand from a probable virus attack.
Below mentioned are the ways through which you can protect your computer from a virus:
- Use an antivirus software
This is the best option available against virus attacks. You can get this software free of charge on the internet. These free downloads are not strong enough to protect your computer. Getting licensed antivirus software is highly recommended.
Installing a licensed antivirus program is not sufficient in itself; you also have to keep it up-to-date to guard your computer against viruses. An antivirus program will affect your e‑mail, operating system, and all the other files. Your computer getting affected by a fresh virus is an ongoing process. That is the reason you should always check the antivirus manufacturer’s website for constant updates. All the major antivirus programs are sold with annual subscriptions, so keep renewing them according to your requirement. You can contact your computer engineer to get licensed antivirus software.
- Be watchful
You can never judge which file contains a virus. Those who frequently use Internet run a higher risk of a virus attack.Protect your computer from viruses by not installing unreliable software, clicking on pop-up ads, or opening unfamiliar emails. You usually receive few e-mails which may a contain virus. These will spread as soon as you open the e‑mail or its attachment. The best way to deal with these e-mail messages is to avoid them. Do not open mails unless you are expecting them or are familiar with its content.
- Always keep your operating system updated
All the major operating systems regularly release special security updates that help computers against virus attacks. These updates close all possible security holes leaving no room for a foreign attack. You should always make sure that your operating system receives these updates by turning on its automatic updating section. Some of the operating systems also create awareness about new viruses, Trojans and other malware, in order to keep the users updated against these malwares.
- Have a secured internet connection
Protect your computer from viruses by using a secured internet connection and combining it with a firewall. A firewall is a part of a computer system or network that is created to block unauthorized access. They are used to prevent unauthorized Internet users from accessing private networks connected to the Internet. All messages entering or leaving the computer pass through the firewall, which scrutinizes each message and blocks those that do not meet the precise security criteria. A firewall program will alert the user against any suspicious activity if a virus or worm tries to connect to your computer. It can also block viruses, worms, and hackers from making an effort to download potentially harmful programs to your computer.
One thing which is noteworthy is that nothing can guarantee the security of your computer completely. However, you should always strive to improve your computer’s security and reduce the likelihood of an infection by keeping your system up-to-date, maintaining a current antivirus software subscription, and following best practices mentioned above.
As we said, no security method is definite, so it’s important and advisable to back up your critical files on a regular basis. This will help you in case you encounter a virus or other problems.