| A virus that infects your computer is not all | | | | Speaking of software, another important step |
| that unlike a virus that infects your body: | | | | for preventing viruses is to install |
| it slows you down and can be passed from you | | | | anti-virus software on your computer. There |
| to the people who you keep in touch with. But | | | | are a number of popular anti-virus brands as |
| the good news is that preventing viruses is | | | | well as effective but less common programs. |
| not difficult. | | | | Take the time to determine which anti-virus |
| | | | software is best for protecting your computer |
| Just as you can prevent infections in your | | | | based on your computing needs. |
| body by taking simple steps like washing your | | | | |
| hands, you can prevent viruses from infecting | | | | And, of course, once you have installed |
| your computer. An up to date anti-virus | | | | software for preventing viruses, make sure |
| program is key for keeping malicious files - | | | | that you keep that software up to date. Check |
| viruses - off of your computer's hard drive. | | | | to make sure that it is operating from a |
| | | | current list of viruses and that it is set to |
| Viruses most commonly infect your computer | | | | protect your computer from viruses at all |
| through email, through world wide web servers | | | | times. |
| and even through the network that your | | | | |
| computer is connected to. Viruses may be an | | | | That way, you will be able to scan documents |
| executable file sent as an email attachment | | | | that you receive in email before opening |
| or incorporated as a macro function in a | | | | them. You will also be able to scan the |
| document written in Microsoft Word or Excel. | | | | documents that you have downloaded from a web |
| | | | site, because even those files stored on |
| Once a computer is infected with one or more | | | | trusted sites may be infected with one or |
| viruses, it is not difficult for those | | | | more viruses. |
| viruses to spread. If you forward a Word or | | | | |
| Excel document containing a macro virus to a | | | | By scanning documents ahead of time, you will |
| network server, the virus will replicate on | | | | be preventing viruses from infecting your |
| the computer of another user who opens it. If | | | | computer. However, if you have not scanned a |
| you email the document to another user as an | | | | document and are unfamiliar with its source, |
| attachment, when they open the file their | | | | be sure to disable the macros contained in |
| computer can become infected. Similarly, if | | | | the document. |
| you add the file to a website and it is | | | | |
| downloaded, if the user has not installed | | | | In addition to scanning documents and |
| software for preventing viruses his or her | | | | disabling macros, you can take other steps to |
| computer is likely to become infected as | | | | prevent viruses. You can avoid sharing files |
| well. | | | | except when absolutely necessary. You can |
| | | | delete emails - particularly those with |
| Therefore, preventing viruses is an ongoing | | | | attachments - that come from sources that you |
| process - one that is important to undertake. | | | | do not recognize. |
| | | | |
| While it may seem like a big task, preventing | | | | And, of course, one of the best means of |
| viruses is not difficult to do. The first | | | | preventing viruses from infecting your |
| simple step is to make sure that your | | | | computer is to be aware. Know what viruses |
| computer's software is current. Security | | | | are out there, how viruses are written and |
| updates will be posted for your operating | | | | spread and how they will affect your computer |
| system to patch areas that may be targeted by | | | | so that you can detect them early and stop |
| viruses. Set your computer to automatically | | | | those that get through from spreading. |
| check for operating system updates. | | | | |
| | | | Joel Pearce writes on viruses |
| Similarly, because a number of viruses are | | | | |
| spread within individual programs rather than | | | | I have tested and tried some of the top |
| through the operating system, it is important | | | | anti-virus software's for you! Find out how |
| to check for program updates - particularly | | | | they went |
| those for Microsoft Word and Excel. | | | | |
| | | | Copyright: Joel Pearce. |