Basics of Computer Viruses

In its simplest terms a virus is a disruptive computer code period!

 A computer virus almost always repeats itself and spreads by attaching itself to other files. Viruses can be made to host several harmful things on any computer from disrupting files to crash networking. It cans even be laying dormant, without you knowing it's there and then attack when least expect it, like right in the middle of downloading a large file or typing a long report.

  It cans even be made to open at a certain date, sitting like a timebomb until it's timing arrives.  As you can see it can be annoying at the very least.
  I do not want go into all the different types of viruses here because there are so many and more are being made everyday in some dank basement by the Dark Lord.
  However, since, so many viruses came from unknowingly opening e-mails I would like to mention some basics here:

  Never open e-mail attachments unless you know for sure who it's from and that it's safe.
Some  mail programs will even ask if you trust the attachment and if you?re sure this you want to do. Your computer software cans also scan attachments for viruses.
  The danger is that when the attachment is opened the virus can attach itself to your hard drive and damage files. Not only that, it can search your saved e-mail addresses and send itself out to your friends, business partners and whoever is on the list, masking the message to look like a legitimate one from you. It wills probably have an attachment too and when opened will infect other computers.

   Many people like to download music, video, games or other programs from different sites.  If it is a site you dealt with before and trust it may be safe ok, but if you?re not sure you can always run a virus scan on the download before installation. (You will need to check the anti-virus program that came with your system on procedures).  This security measure is necessary because some downloads that may contain virtues, spyware or adware ? these last two can collect personal information, note your browsing habits and spam your e-mail with unwanted ads.  Some software sites will offer a readme file that show technical information on the download (if you like tech talk) as well as contact info.
The better sites that offer downloads, will test and scan all software programs before going online with it.  As a last resort, you can do an internet search for reviews on that particular company to see if others got burned.

  This may sound scary to some but the fact is in this world anyone who owns a computer will have to look over  their shoulders for hidden attacks when working with online.
  That said there are some things should do to prevent viruses from attacking your computer:

• Download the latest virus definition lists ( files that tell your computer what to scan for) that's used for your anti-virus program.
• Check to see if your internet service provider has tools to stop viruses before they can reach your mailbox.
• Always back-up your computer on CD-R disks or other media if you loose some or all your data.
• You can scan software for viruses before installing it. (See system manual for procedure)
• Set your security settings at the highest level.
• Check your web browser and e-mail settings.

Doing these things at least every week will help keep your computer up-to-date on Virus protection and running safely.

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10 Steps To A Safe, Smooth Running PC

10 Steps To A Safe, Smooth Running PC By Michael A Silva

These ten steps will help you increase your computer's security. From discovering viruses to learning how to avoid them, this article is a must read!

Windows password This is the easiest way to make sure you know who is using your PC. Choose a lengthy password that contains capital and lower case letters. Including a number or two will greatly increase your security. Having a Window password means that the only people that can log onto a Window session are people that you have granted access to.

Password manager You should never write your passwords down. Using the same password that all the time will also make it very easy for hackers to reach your personal information. So if you can't write it down and you're not
supposed to use the same one ? how are you supposed to keep track of all your passwords? The easiest way to do this is to use a password manager. We prefer to use Roboform. Roboform is an easy to use password and profile manager that dock neatly into your Internet Explorer toolbar and keeps track of all your passwords for you. Roboform also uses a master password system. You will have one password that access all the passwords in the program. This way you can keep all your information safe and secure. You can download Roboform for free by http://www.roboform.com.

Spyware Remover Next to spam, spyware is the Internet's biggest annoyance. By definition, spyware is any software that covertly gather user information through the user's Internet connection without his or her knowledge, usually for advertising purposes. Once installed, the spyware monitors user activity on the Internet and transmits that information in the background to someone else. Spyware can also gather information about e-mail addresses and even passwords and credit card numbers. The amount of spyware that exists on your pc depends on the amount of internet surfing you do. A good rule of thumb here is to scan for spyware once per week or, whenever poor system performance surfaces. If you don't have a spyware scanner, we recommend http://www.webroot.com.

Antivirus This should go without saying, but if your computer is connected to the internet you need antivirus software. With weekly scans and program updates you should be protected from most threats. For added protection, we
recommend using more than one anvtivirus scanner.

Firewall A firewall will keep unwanted visitors out of your computer. You can obtain a firewall either by using software application like ZoneAlarm or Black Ice Defender, or by using a router with your internet connection. For more information on routers plese visit http://www.Linksys.com.

File sharing Basically, file sharing programs are the single biggest security risk you will come across. This is because the only facts you have about the files you are downloading are the file name and the file size. It is quite simple to change a filename to dupe someone into downloading a virus or other malware like keystroke recorders. Our advice stays away from file sharing at all costs. If you need to use it, make sure you have updated antivirus software installed and running.

Research In a sentence ? know what's out there. http://www.Symantec.com  has a section on their website  that will serve you well. Knowing what types of viruses exist  and how to avoid them will make you much smarter internet user.

Email protection Most of the antivirus applications available offer email scanning. If yours does not, you will want to get one that does. Email scanning will make sure all your incoming and outgoing emails are safe for both you and the recipient. Email viruses spread very quickly by using your address book to propagate. Never read email from people you don't know and always make sure your email scanner is active.

Network security Another way that virus spread is through computer networks. We have a few quick tips to keep your network safe. Always scan any files that come in from other computers. Even if it's a file you have brought from home. Never allow a file to be placed on your network until it
has been scanned. The main server should be the only computer with file sharing enabled. By not allowing computer users to transmit files, you can quickly neutralize a threat.

Maintenance Performing weekly virus and spyware scans will go a long way to keeping your computer safe. Defragmenting weekly will also greatly improve performance. If you put in the effort, you will be rewarded with a safe and smooth running pc. Not to mention  less headaches!

By following these ten guide lines, you will greatly improve the performance of your computer. You will also generate peace of mind as you gain a new sense of security.

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