Worried about getting a virus or malware on your computer? Does your internet browser seem to be running slower than normal? Here are some quick tips on protecting your computer.
Antivirus
Does your computer have an Antivirus application installed? Does it have a current subscription? With more and more of our daily computer activity becoming web-based it is critical to have Anti-Virus and make sure that it has a current subscription. Many times new computers will ship with Anti-Virus , but the subscription is only good for 90 days or a year. It is critical to maintain current subscriptions so the application can download current virus definitions, protecting you from the new and ever-changing viruses.
Downloads
Do you download a lot of files? More and more file downloads are becoming infected with Malware and Spyware. The biggest source for infected downloads is from file sharing websites such as torrent sites. If you are going to download files make sure you are downloading from trusted and reliable sites such as HP, Microsoft, and other software developers. Also make sure your Anti-Virus is set to scan downloaded files.
Tool Bars
Installing add-ins such as toolbars can greatly reduce the performance of your computer and internet browser. Most of the time Toolbars are offered as an addition to another program you may be downloading and installing. When installing software be sure to review each window during the install process, make sure check boxes are only selected for the software you want to install. Many of the toolbars enable indexing on your computer and are taking valuable resources away from your computer to search and classify files every time you make a change or perform a search.
Websites and Searching
Do you use a search engine such as Google, Bing, or Yahoo on a regular basis? If so do you look at the links displayed in your search results before clicking the link? You should always take the time to look at the link and make sure it is directing you to the website you intend to visit. More and more web developers are creating websites that look very similar to that of your intended target, and once you visit one of these alternative sites it is possible for your computer to pick up a virus or malware.
Email
Email of course is one of the oldest ways for your computer to get a virus. Make sure your Anti-Virus is set to scan all incoming email. Also consider purchasing a third-party spam filtering service. These services can quarantine infected emails before they ever reach your computer. Lastly if you don’t know who the email is from or recognize the subject, don’t open the email.
These are just a few quick tips to protect your computer. If you already have a virus or are experiencing performance issues, give us call and we will be happy to help you clean up your computer.
888-782-2600
www.tekcetera.com
