Protecting Your Computer

How would you protect your computer from viruses?

1. Install the Latest Anti-Virus
Anti-virus softwares scan your computer's memory for patterns that indicate viruses. Viruses are detected by certain signatures or definitions, and so when the anti-virus software recognises it, it can get rid of it. Virus authors continually create new viruses and so installing the latest anti-virus ensures that you have a higher chance of protecting your computer.

2. Put Your Firewall On
Firewalls block unauthorized access to computers. It controls the way a computer talks to the internet, and monitors what goes in and out of the ports of the computer. Switching on the firewall adds an extra shield against viruses that would otherwise attempt to slip through the back door.

3. Be Careful With Your Emails and Avoid Suspicious Websites
Viruses can infect computers through email attachments and websites. If an email seems mistrustful, do not open its attachments or links. Always scan before opening.

4. Put Your Browser Security On
Blocking pop-ups is not enough to combat viruses. Setting the browser security to medium or high will increase the computer's safety.

5. Always Back Up Your Files
Viruses can delete or corrupt files. By backing up files, even if a virus succeeds in crashing a computer, a copy of the file is still on hand.

6. Avoid Pirated Mediums and Downloads
Free software may sometimes contain viruses. Buying software from a reliable, geniune source is always the safer choice.

The Basics about Viruses

A virus is a small program that spreads from one computer to another computer, like a microbe.
It's like a cold, infecting your whole computer; although it may not be immediately obvious that your computer has been inhabited by a virus, you can tell when certain symptoms arise.
• Your computer behaves strangely, i.e. in a way that you haven’t seen
before.
• You see unexpected messages or images.
• You hear unexpected sounds, played at random.
• Programs start unexpectedly.
• Your personal firewall tells you that an application has tried to connect to
the Internet (and it’s not a program that you ran).
• Your friends tell you that they have received e-mail messages from your
address and you haven’t sent them anything.
• Your computer ‘freezes’ frequently, or programs start running slowly.
• You get lots of system error messages.
• The operating system will not load when you start your computer.
• You notice that files or folders have been deleted or changed.
• You notice hard disk access (shown by one of the small flashing lights)
when you’re not aware of any programs running.
• Your web browser behaves erratically, e.g. you can’t close a browser
window.
A person may spread his cold to another when in close contact.
Likewise, once the virus gets into your computer system through a file attachment or link in your email.
Viruses may delete or corrupt your files, among other things.

How do viruses affect your computer?

When your computer is attacked by a virus, it is usually not obvious. You will not be able to immediately find out whether or not you have a virus on your computer.

Here are some ways viruses creep onto your computer:

1) By accepting pop-ups or prompts without reading the screen and understanding what they are for
2) By opening email attachments/links from people you don’t know
3) By opening unexpected email attachments/suspicious links from email addresses you do recognize
4) By not running security updates; closing the security scanner when it’s running. This makes the computer less secure and more prone to virus attacks.
5) By downloading free/illegal software like movies and music – many of these software contain hidden viruses
6) By downloading software off random websites – make sure you download software off reliable sources
7) By downloading additional software along with your intended download without reading what they are for