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