If you are a heavy PC user, then the chances are that you have been compromised by malware on numerous occasions. You are also quite right to point out that some of those occasions are not entirely your fault.
Everyone is vulnerable to compromised flash drives, malware attached to IMs, infected websites, etc. and while it is nearly impossible to avoid any sort of contamination ever, there are some simple steps that can reduce the chances of having to go through the frustrating process of decontamination or losing precious data.
● Common sense: Obvious as it sounds, there are still lot of people are who are very likely to fall for e-mail scams like the infamous ‘Nigerian Prince/banker’ scam that has been going around for years. Subscribe to the common rule “if it’s too good to be true, then it probably is” and avoid suspicious emails and websites.
If you are not sure about the email or message, just Google the subject of the email or parts of its content, which is enough to help you verify the threat. The same applies to websites, with suspicious addresses. As a precaution, avoid following links to popular websites because there is a chance that you could be re-directed to a fake website that is designed to steal your personal information. Instead, just type it into the address bar or Google it.
● Layered security: This is not as complicated as it sounds. Basically, it involves using a different antivirus and a different firewall for your PC. The advantage being that the multiple layers of security have a better chance of detecting and removing different types of threats. The best part is that you can get this done free.
If you are using an original version of Windows (or a very good cracked copy), download the Microsoft Security Essentials Pack for your antivirus needs. For the firewall, download the free Zone Alarm Firewall. That simple combination will keep you safe from most threats.
● Updates: This is by far the simplest requirement. Even if you have the finest anti-virus system known to humanity, you will need to update it regularly because without those updates it will no longer be able to detect the latest generation of malware. Update, your antivirus, firewall and windows updates as often as possible. A simple check once every two weeks should be just fine.
By Navam Niles
0 Comments