How To Protect Your PC from Computer Viruses

What Exactly Are Computer Viruses? There are a lot of different types of computer viruses, but the goal of these malicious computer programs is usually the same, and that's to be a nuisance in some way. Some viruses are quite harmful and will attempt to delete files and folders, thus leaving your system wounded, even to the point where the computer won't boot. Others will even go so far as to format the entire hard drive, which pretty much wipes out anything you've got stored there. There are also viruses which really don't do anything other than to pester you and repeatedly inform you that they've hacked their way onto your machine, and you are now at their mercy. A classic example is the cookie virus, which really didn't do any harm, other than to popup a message saying "I want a cookie". The system would remain unusable until the user type the word "cookie". Then there are computer worms, which should not be confused with viruses, although many people lump them together into one group. As a matter of fact, a worm might even contain virus code within it. But, the big difference here is what a worm does. It's whole goal is to duplicate itself anywhere and everywhere using whatever means it has available. Sometimes this can involve using email or an unprotected network connection. Lastly, we have the trojan horses. It is usually also clumped in with computer viruses, but it's a bit of a different beast. As the name would indicate, a trojan horse claims to do one thing, when in fact it does something entirely different. Some people view spyware as a trojan horse, because aside from the specific use it was aquired for, behind the scenes, and without your knowledge, it's collecting information about you and sending it to someone else. Yet again, other trojan horse programs contain malicious virus code within them to physically damage ones system. You can also turn to Wikipedia if you're looking for a more indepth description of just exactly what a computer virus, computer worm or trojan horse is. How Can I Protect My PC from Viruses? Seems obvious, buy and install anti-virus software. Well of course, that's the first thing to do, but that's definatly NOT where it ends. I've included a list of some of the most popular ones below.Here's what I recommend:

Never open an email attachment that has a .ZIP, .EXE or .VBS extension, PERIOD. DO NOT, under any circumstances, download so called "free software" from any site unless you can clearly see markings on the page that indicate that the software is "spyware free". If at all possible, stay away from freeware downloads altogether. I'm not a big fan of them, because these company's usually have a hidden agenda. Shareware/trail versions are okay, because you get to preview the software, then purchase it if you're happy. This is also known as "try before you buy". Always scan every program you download, whether it's a .ZIP file, .EXE or whatever,M.ku Make sure and keep your operating system up to date with the latest software updates. I know this can be a bit of a nuisance, but it's very important, because it protects you from ever emerging exploits that hackers use to get their malicious code onto your box. The best thing to do is setup your system to do automatic updates, and then just leave your PC running, that's what I do. Use a software firewall to reduce the risks to your system. If you don't have a firewall, you PC is open to everyone on the internet. Most firewalls include something called "stealth" security, which makes your PC invisible to anyone interested in trying to hit it. If you have young chidren or teenagers, make sure you monitor what they're doing, because they could be unwittingly downloading and infecting your system. A good idea is to get some parental control software. Some software vendors package this up with antivirus and firewall software. Remember, procrastination when it comes to obtaining and installing an Anti Virus Program is like playing with fire. It's very important to keep your PC protected. So take a few minutes RIGHT NOW, before you lose precious data, and get yourself some much needed virus protection! The next section includes the very best anti virus protection software links I know of. What Are My Options for Anti-Virus Software? I've taken the time to compile what I consider to be a list of the very best in anti virus software available today. And you might be surprised to know that two of the most popular anti virus software packages aren't on my list. As you'll soon see, neither McAfee Anti Virus nor Norton Anti Virus made the list. And just so you're aware, I'm haven't even bothered to list software that I gave 4 stars or less (out of 5), because they're just not worth the trouble, in my opinion. To help you save time, I've done some comparison shopping, and found a number of instances where the software is offered at a discount. If you decide to purchase online (every one of these companies uses secure payment systems), you can immediately begin your anti virus download, and in about 15 minutes you'll be ready to install and protect your system from those malicious viruses:

Panda Internet Security Panda Anti Virus + Firewall Panda Anti Virus NOD32 Anti Virus System ZoneAlarm Anti Virus ZoneAlarm Security Suite PC-cillin Anti Virus Kaspersky Internet Security Kaspersky Anti Virus CoGen Anti Virus CoGen Firewall Computer Associates Anti Virus Computer Associates Internet Security Suite Defender Pro Anti Virus Software Key Features to Look For When Purchasing Anti-Virus Software

Make sure the program is easy to install, because over time you'll want to upgrade to newer versions of the software, and the last thing you need is to be afraid of doing upgrades because they are too complicated. Although, it's now pretty standard for most anti-virus software to include this feature, be sure that you can scan your system at will, as well as at pre-defined times. Read through the documentation, including online help, and make sure you're comfortable with the terminology. If you have trouble, check the wikipedia for more information. Automatic virus updates are pretty standard, but make sure that the updates happen in the background so the software doesn't interfere with normal system operation The software should include email scanning, both outgoing and incoming. It should have built in support for common email programs such as Microsoft Outlook, Eudora, Thunderbird, etc.   And always remember, if you get stuck, don't be afraid to ask an expert, that's what I'm here for.

Ted Neustaedter is a software developer from Sooke, British Columbia, Canada, and has been developing software for over 17 years, mainly specializing in Windows application development. The majority of his software experience is in C/C++, C#, Java, ASP.NET and SQL Server, but he has also spent several years designing embedded systems related to Saw Mills Control Systems, GPS tracking, GSM/CDMA communications, just to name a few.