TOP 10 TIPS TO PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST COMPUTER VIRUSES.

When your computer gets infected with a virus it can be a devastating experience and this is exactly why you need to protect your computer from viruses. A virus can consume your precious computer files and even damage your computer hardware. Is this worth ignoring? I don’t think so! Google it and I guess you might be getting the same definition. Anything you can do when protecting your computer from viruses has to be a good thing and is well worth spending your time on. We all know prevention is better than a cure so I am going to share my top 10 tips on how to protect your computer from viruses.

10 tips to protect your computer from viruses.

There are many ways to protect your computer from nasty viruses invading. Protecting your computer is an number one concern for every computer user on earth. I do not know anyone that wants to have their computer crash due to a virus invasion. Here are 10 ways to protect your computer and keep your files and data safe.

1. Learn about viruses.

The first thing that I recommend is to research and become knowledgeable about viruses. How can you protect your computer from viruses if you don’t even know what they are. Here are some previous tutorials I have written about viruses. See What is a Virus and how do I know if I have one? and What is the difference between a virus, spyware, Malware, and adware? How can you protect your computer from viruses if you don’t know what it is?

2. Arm yourself with the best Anti-virus software to suit your needs.

Not everyone can get away with using free Anti-virus software because it depends what you do on your computer. It depends on factors such as if you download files or not, if you open email attachments, and if you surf suspicious websites. See my reviews for the best Virus Removal Software. Lets face it, if you do not have protection against viruses installed on your computer, you will without a doubt, get a virus within the first hour of surfing the internet. It is that easy. For years I would remove a virus from my dads computer at least  once a year, until finally I realized that he needed a paid Anti-virus program. He wasn’t good with computers and if a windows popped up and said he needed to take a scan, he would just do it. He would just presume it was the program I had installed to protect his computer. Now I have Eset on his computer and there has not been one problem since. I bought the Internet security version so it has full protection. It never asks him to do anything and just works in the background.

3. Regular Updates

Having a great Anti-virus program installed on your computer to protect your computer from viruses is great, however if you do not regularly update the virus definitions, then the program is useless. New viruses are produced daily and this is why we constantly have to update the viruses definitions and stay ahead of the bad guys. Eset Internet Security simply updates by itself and just tells me when it is done.

4. Downloading

When surfing the internet avoid websites that contain illegal software downloads, sexual references, free screensavers, cracks or serials, etc. I am sure you get the picture. If you go near these sites you are immediately asking for trouble. Some other websites that you should stay away from include foreign websites where you cannot understand the language on them. This is because you cannot tell what is on the website.

5. Windows Updates  

Always update Windows when protecting your computer. These updates contain

security updates that will help in your fight against viruses. If you do not perform regular Windows updates you are leaving your computer in a vulnerable state. You can simple check to see if your computer needs updates by going to he start menu and typing in “windows update”. See the screen shot below. You can also view recent Windows update history so you can be in control of the whole situation. tips to protect your computer from viruses

6. Opening Emails

Be careful when opening emails. There are obvious emails that you know you shouldn’t open, however what about the ones you get from people you know? What if your friend has a virus and it is spreading itself through emails? An email cannot be important enough to risk getting a virus. Delete the email and send a fresh email to your friend asking them if they actually did send you the email. It is better to be safe than sorry. :( You can also create a whitelist so only certain emails get through. You will still have to be careful though, as you do not know what security the sender has installed on their computer. It’s like driving on the road, you need to watch how others are driving to stay safe.

7. Change your settings to protect

your computer from viruses If you are really serious about protecting your computer you can change your email settings and receive text emails only. You can also disable the ability to open email attachments. Virus travel in HTML enabled emails and file attachments. They cannot travel in text email messages. I know this sounds very boring, however, I would rather be boring and protect my computer from viruses.

8. Peer to Peer file sharing – ways to protect your computer

Do not use peer to peer (p2p) file sharing programs. These include programs such as Limewire, Bearshare, Gnutella, Morpheus, Torrents, etc. These program let you download files from other computer users connected to their program network. You have no way of knowing what you are actually downloading until it is on your computer. Even if you share files from a cd from a  friend, it may have a virus. Protecting your computer from viruses is the most important priority for you and you do not want to risk your computer safety just because you trust your friend.

9. Do not download files from websites

Again, there is no way of knowing what you are downloading. The file can appear to be named like the file you want, however it could be anything. Most of the time, this is how a virus is unleashed, it usually seems like a harmless, familiar object. If you are looking for a driver for a certain brand of computer then make sure you are getting the download from the genuine website. Many websites on the Internet offer free driver downloads, however, many of them contain viruses. Everything is not what it seems, so be very careful.

10. Have Firewall Protection

Make sure you have a firewall enabled on your computer. Windows comes with an inbuilt firewall or you can use a third party firewall program like Zone Alarm. Either way, make sure the firewall is on…To check the Windows Firewall go to the security settings in your control panel. If you are careful and are serious about learning how to protect your computer from viruses, it is possible to stay safe. My top 10 tips will help you keep your computer running smoothly, and virus free.

Notes on tips to protect your computer from viruses: These 10 ways to protect your computer from viruses are extremely important tips to follow. If you have had a virus in the past you would know how devastating it is when you lose all of your files and your computer crashes.  People often try to install more than one anti-virus program to protect their computers from viruses. This is not how to protect your computer from viruses as installing more than one program always causes a problem. You can only install one virus removal program at any one time.

CUSTOMIZE UAC IN WINDOWS 7

Windows 7 User Account Control displays less warning than UAC in Vista, and lets you customize UAC according to your need and preference between security and a less annoying desktop experience. UAC prompts in Windows 7 are not as much as in Vista as very few programs require elevation, and Administrator can adjust these UAC prompts. 

Go to Start > Control Panel > User Accounts > Change User Account Control Settings

Here you can select when to notify or bring the UAC prompt. There are 4 levels of security which includes:

•  Always Notify
• Notify me only when programs try to make changes to my computer
• Notify me only when programs try to make changes to my computer (do not dim my desktop)
• Never Notify

Select them according to your balance between security and desktop experience and adjust the level of UAC prompt. Any change to the level of the UAC will prompt for confirmation.

CUSTOMIZE THE WINDOWS 7 LOG-ON SCREEN.

Windows 7 makes it easy to customize the Windows log-on screen. Just follow the simple steps below.

1. Go to start, and click on Run(WIN+R), type Regedit & press enter there.

2. Navigate to : HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Authentication\ LogonUI\Background

3. Double-click the OEMBackground DWORD key

4. Set value of the key to 1.

5. Select a background image for Logon Screen with size less than 256KB in size (Use of Image Resize software like VSO Resizer can help)

6. Copy that image into the C:\Windows\system32\oobe\info\backgrounds folder

7. Rename the image to backgroundDefault.jpg

8. Reboot, and now your logon Image would have changed.

CREATE NEW INSTANCE OF AN APPLICATION IN WINDOWS 7 SUPER TASKBAR

In windows 7 Taskbar instance of an application can easily be created by using Win + Number Key. Here number key signifies the position of the Application in the Taskbar.

If you press Windows + 1, it will create a new instance of the first icon in the task bar. In the taskbar Shown here it will open an instance of Internet Explorer while Win+5 open Windows media Player, Win+7 to Windows Live writer and so on.

Now that‟s when i wish there must be Double digit Keys as well in Keyboard.

CHECK WINDOWS VERSION

Windows Version tells the exact Build of OS and service Pack you are using. You can simply check it by using Winver Command. Open Run Dialog box by using Win+R and type “Winver” there without quotes. This will bring a Windows which has OS details such as Windows details.

Alternatively you can also use the Command prompt to find the information. Type “Winver” in command prompt. It would display all details in command prompt.

ASSIGN KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS FOR PROGRAMS

Application can be assigned a shortcut key in Windows 7. The application would launch when the combo of keys is pressed which you entered as the Shortcut Key for that application.

To create Shortcut key for any application in Windows 7:

1. Right-click the program icon and select Properties.

2. Select the Shortcut tab

3. Click in Shortcut key textbox

4. Enter the keyboard shortcut for that program.

5. Press OK to exit.

6. Use the Keyboard shortcut combo to launch the application.

 Like the way i have used a combo of keys Ctrl+Alt+C to launch calculator application other applications can also be launched using Shortcut keys.

ACCESS JUMP LISTS WITH THE LEFT MOUSE BUTTON

Jump Lists are a new feature in Windows 7 that shows recently used files for a particular application or related tasks to an application. Jumplists can be accessed by right clicking an application icon in Windows 7 taskbar.

Although it can be accessed by left clicking an application icon and while holding the mouse click dragging the icon upwards. i.e. Right click and drag the application icon upwards to access jumplists in Windows 7 using Left Mouse button. 

The more you drag icon upwards the lesser transparency of Jumplist becomes. In above screenshot, case 1 shows when Jumplist invoked through right click and application icon is not dragged much upwards while case 2 shows solid Jumplist when application icon is dragged upwards completely.

APPLICATION BASED VOLUME MIXER

Volume Mixer in Windows 7, not just show device volume but also lists all applications that are currently running and producing the audio. You can control the audio of any of the application from there on. So when you are having more than one application that is producing sound you can control from here and stop it as well.

@ the time when i snipped the screen, there were few applications running on my system, Yahoo Messenger, Google Talk, few media players Windows Media Player, VLC Media player, QuickTime and one video clip was also being played in Windows Live photo gallery (yes it can play Video as well apart from Images).

WHAT IS A VIRUS AND HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE ONE?

If you are asking “What is a virus” then it is very important that you read through this article. There are some obvious symptoms that your computer will develop when it gets infected with a virus and to recognize these, you need to know what a virus is. But the first thing I have to mention is that if you had a decent antivirus program installed on your computer you would not have a problem. The virus programs now days are fantastic in crushing any chances of a viruses infecting your computer. There are many ways to protect your computer from viruses; however, knowing what a virus is should be your number one priority.

WHAT IS A VIRUS?

What is a virus is a very important question! A virus is a small program that gets into your computer undetected in order to cause havoc. This small software program has either been developed because the author enjoys causing disasters for other people or sometimes for monetary gains. Sometimes a virus is packaged in a file that is called a trojan virus. It is disguised as something else, and once it has gained access to your computer it then releases its intent. 

Also see What’s the difference between a virus, spyware, Malware, and adware?

Here are some more technical definitions relating to what is a virus from other websites:

Wikipedia – what is a virus?

Microsoft – what is a computer virus?

WHAT IS A VIRUS AND HOW DOES IT GET ONTO MY COMPUTER?

The people that develop these viruses are constantly finding new ways to infiltrate your computer. When one door shuts, another one opens for them. However the most common ways to get a virus on your computer is through the internet. You might download a file that contains a virus, or maybe you might open an email that has one attached to it. Sometimes even visiting a bad website can infect your computer. The worst one of all, however, is when people download illegal cracked software. This software has usually been taken apart and repackaged with a few extras attached. Maybe you download music or videos from the internet. How do you know you are actually downloading the file you intended to. The file may be named to deceive you, and once you open it you will release the virus. Another common way to get a virus is to see software appear on your screen that is posing as an antivirus program. The minute you press the cross button to close the program or even the scan button, because it is telling you to scan for viruses, you are immediately infected by this virus. If you see a program come up on your screen that you know you did not install, the best way to shut it down is to open up task manager and end the process.

WHAT IS A VIRUS? HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE A VIRUS OR NOT?

If your computer has been infected with a virus you will quickly see odd signs that it exists. Weird things start happening that you cannot explain. Files might move around, odd error messages may appear, programs might start to fail. For example if your virus scanner program stops working then it could have been disabled by a virus. With all this action taking place in the background your computer will also start to run slow and seem like it is busy all the time. When browsing the internet you might find that you will not able to visits the pages that you choose. You will be redirected to different websites. You computer might also be sending emails to everyone in your contact list without you knowing.

WHAT CAN A VIRUS DO TO MY COMPUTER HARDWARE COMPONENTS?

People think that a virus simply attacks the file systems of your computer, however this is not true. Some viruses are designed to damaged computer hardware components until they are ruined completely. Many people will argue that a virus only infects software, however all hardware is controlled by various types of software. Infact the entire computer is controlled by BIOS which is software. BIOS controls the temperature of the motherboard. What if a viruses only purpose was to change the temperature control on your motherboard. The motherboard would overheat and fry itself. In the old days viruses used to be developed to set the read speed of a floppy disk drive to speeds beyond its capability. The Floppy disk drive would overheat and fry from being overworked. Now days Windows Vista has a service called Superfetch that searches your hard drive, finds out what you use the most, and makes it available for you.. If you made a virus to control Superfetch, we could have a serious problem. Most Vista users already have Superfetch disabled on their computer. A virus could enable it, tell it all files are important, keep it searching non stop, and fry your hard drive that way. Now I can here someone saying “yeah right, not with all the security we have around today”. Well you should never underestimate these guys who develop viruses. They can workaround anything.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I GET A VIRUS?

If you suspect that your computer has a virus, scan your computer asap with an antivirus program. If you do not have one or yours is not working, download another one, or get a free scan using the free online virus scanners. Here is a list of free online virus scanners. Symantec Security Check, ESET smart security, McAfee FreeScan, Panda ActiveScan, Trend Micro, Kaspersky lab, bitdefender, and there are so many more. There is no guarantee that these free scanners will cure your computer but they might just confirm the fact that you actually have a virus. If you find viruses but cannot remove them you will need to take your computer to a professional before you lose everything. Another option is to format your computer which means you loose all the files on it and re-install a fresh copy of the operating system. You can backup your files first, but please be aware that they might be infected with a virus also. If you have scanned your computer, found viruses, and successfully deleted them, then now is the time to buy a decent program that will stop this from happening again. See my review of the best Virus Removal Software.

Do not continue to use the computer without taking action because the longer you leave it the further the virus can spread.

WHAT IS A VIRUS? WHAT FILE TYPES COMMONLY CONTAIN VIRUSES?

Lets face it, downloading is a dangerous business, especially when you have important files stored on your computer. Any file you download can contain a virus. My rule for downloading is to ask myself “Do I know and trust this website I am about to download from?”

Here are a few examples of common files that could contain viruses:

EXE FILE: If you download a program or anything that requires an install file then it will be an .exe file. When you press on it to install to your computer you could be releasing a virus.

ZIP FILE: People download zip files from the internet that contain any other file type and you will not see it’s contents until you open it. A zip file might have an exe file in it.

SCR FILE: Free screensavers for your computer. They always have something bad in them. Sometimes adware or viruses.

DOC FILE: A Microsoft word document can contain macros and small scripts that are viruses.

If you haven’t got antivirus software installed on your computer you can try Avast. It also takes care of spyware, malware, etc and it is fantastic!  Take advantage of avast! try before you buy policy. avast! offer most of their products on a trial basis for 60 days.

Notes on what is a virus:

·         There is a lot of confusion about actually “what is a virus” because there are so many different types of viruses out there.

·         Most, if not all websites on the Internet agree that a virus is a small piece of software that invade your computer.

I hope you are not still asking “WHAT A VIRUS IS” as this can be a very dangerous question.