How
T o Protect your MS Windows System
from Viruses
Nowadays
as the Internet and other networks
are greatly developed computer viruses
are distributed rapidly and intensively.
Everyday several new viruses capable
to damage considerably your computer
system arise. Anti-virus specialists
work hardly to make updates their
software against new viruses as
soon as possible. The viruses can
get inside computer in different
ways. That is why there is no simple
method to protect system. Only series
of measures can give you reliable
protection from the infection. Below
are 9 steps to protect MS Windows
based PC system from viruses.
1.
Make regular backups.
It
should be said that there is no
absolutely safe way of protection.
Virus creators regularly find holes
in new computer products to use
them for infection of computer systems.
Some dangerous viruses can considerably
damage data files or even erase
entire file system. Make regular
backups of your data files to separate
file storage device. It can be separate
hard drive, flash card, compact
disc or another file storage device
which you choose. To ease the procedure
you can use some automatic backup
software. And be ready if the system
will die because of virus infection.
2.
Be ready to reinstall your system
if it dies because of viruses.
Get
distributives of your operation
system and distributives of software
which you use and keep them together,
for instance, on a set of CDs not
far away from you. In this case
if virus infection will cause unrecoverable
system failure you can rapidly reinstall
your working medium.
3.
Protect your network connection
with Firewall.
Firewall
is a software which blocks suspicious
potentially dangerous connections
to preventing viruses from network
to penetrate into your system. Windows
XP system has quit simple but reliable
built-in firewall. You can enable
it as follows. 1) in Control Panel,
double-click Networking and Internet
Connections, and then click Network
Connections. 2) Right-click the
connection on which you would like
to enable firewall, and then click
Properties. 3) On the Advanced tab,
check the option to Protect my computer
and network.
If
you need more flexible control of
connections with network you can
get and install more advanced firewall
software like Norton Personal Firewall
or Outpost Firewall. If you use
this software you have ability to
permit or to block particular connections
and to monitor network activity.
4.
Use antivirus software.
Install
antivirus software which will scan
your system searching and erasing
viruses on a regular basis. Leaders
in antivirus software products for
Windows systems are Norton Antivirus,
McAfee, Kaspersky Anti-Virus and
PC-cilin.
5.
Regularly update operating system.
Windows
XP has built-in automatic update
service. It regularly contacts Microsoft
server to find updates and notifies
you if updates are ready to be installed.
Updates are important because hackers
regularly find holes in operating
system which are often used by virus
creators.
6.
Don't install and don't run suspicious
software.
Check
new programs which you are going
to install with anti-virus software.
Don't download software from suspicious
websites. To download software always
seek website of software creator
or official distributor. Do not
open applications received by email
from unknown persons.
7.
Limit access to your computer.
Protect
enter to system with password.
8.
If you use Internet Explorer, consider
moving to another browser.
As
IE is the most distributed browser
today virus creators actively use
defects in its security system to
infect computers. Infection may
arise if you will visit webpage
which contains invisible harmful
code. You are more safe if you use
less known browser only because
virus creators do not pay much attention
to it. Major IE competitors Firefox
and Opera browsers provide now the
same comfortable interface and range
of services for working on the Web.
9.
Use spam protection.
Viruses
are often distributed via email.
Switch on spam filters in your email
box to block spam receiving. If
you need assistance with using of
the filters you can ask your email
service provider.
About the author:
Evgeny
Kovalenko is the Editor of FSSD
computer software directory
with free submission service for
software developers and distributors.
