You may be wondering where viruses come from. People are responsible for writing computer viruses. Some are meant to be funny, while others are meant to do damage to your computer. Since we can't control what people do, the real question is, how can I keep my computer safe from viruses?
Tips to Stay Safe
Use Anti-virus Software
The best thing you can do for your computer is use an anti-virus software. Anti-virus software is a program that protectsyour email, files, and downloads against viruses, worms, and Trojan horses; removes existing threats from your computer; and protects against new viruses if the anti-virus software is updated regularly.
There are several free options, or you can purchase a commercial one such as Norton or McAfee, which are relatively inexpensive when you think about the damage that can be done to your computer. If you already have anti-virus software, verify your virus protection is current. New viruses are written all the time, so it is important that the virus protection that you use be current. This doesn't mean that you have to continuously purchase new software. Most anti-virus software vendors provide updates to your software regularly, and some even provide automatic downloads and updates.
The best thing you can do for your computer is use an anti-virus software. Anti-virus software is a program that protectsyour email, files, and downloads against viruses, worms, and Trojan horses; removes existing threats from your computer; and protects against new viruses if the anti-virus software is updated regularly.
There are several free options, or you can purchase a commercial one such as Norton or McAfee, which are relatively inexpensive when you think about the damage that can be done to your computer. If you already have anti-virus software, verify your virus protection is current. New viruses are written all the time, so it is important that the virus protection that you use be current. This doesn't mean that you have to continuously purchase new software. Most anti-virus software vendors provide updates to your software regularly, and some even provide automatic downloads and updates.
Read Lesson 15 of our Internet Safety tutorial to learn more about anti-virus software.
Avoid Downloading Programs from Unknown Sources
The Internet is full of unknown sources. If you are going to use the Internet, become a savvy web surfer. Learn to look and explore a website to determine if it is a credible site and most likely safe to download from. For example, if you spend some time on the GCFLearnFree.org site you will see that the site is organized and well designed. There is information about who we are, as well contact information in the form of a physical address and email addresses. We are a credible site. Think about who is responsible for the web site and make your best judgment before downloading games, programs, or documents from unknown sources.
The Internet is full of unknown sources. If you are going to use the Internet, become a savvy web surfer. Learn to look and explore a website to determine if it is a credible site and most likely safe to download from. For example, if you spend some time on the GCFLearnFree.org site you will see that the site is organized and well designed. There is information about who we are, as well contact information in the form of a physical address and email addresses. We are a credible site. Think about who is responsible for the web site and make your best judgment before downloading games, programs, or documents from unknown sources.
Be Cautious of Email Attachments
Never double-click on an email attachment that contains an executable file with an extension such as .exe or .vbs. In generally, be cautious of email attachments and don't download or open files from people you do not know or were not expecting to receive an email from.
Never double-click on an email attachment that contains an executable file with an extension such as .exe or .vbs. In generally, be cautious of email attachments and don't download or open files from people you do not know or were not expecting to receive an email from.
Check the Internet Security Options in Your Browser
Whether you use Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, or another browser, always check the Internet security options that are provided by your browser. Each browser is different, so use the Help tool in your browser to learn more about how it helps defend your computer against threats.
Whether you use Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, or another browser, always check the Internet security options that are provided by your browser. Each browser is different, so use the Help tool in your browser to learn more about how it helps defend your computer against threats.
Internet Explorer Options Dialog Box