8 tipsTo Protect Your PC

There are literally hundreds upon hundreds of PC security products available online and off. There is simply no end to the number of software that are designed to protect you from viruses, malware, spyware and all sort of shiznattz.

For the security conscious user, it’s a nightmare to choose which software to install because each product portrays itself as better than the other. In that case, what do you dooo?

Ze Tips!

You install a standard-fare antivirus and then follow the following simple steps! That’s what you doo!

USE AN ANTI-VIRUS

A common misconception among common people is that they refuse to install an anti-virus because they belive it would be too hard a process to install it. Well, I’ll tell ya this: when a virus makes your PC go kaput, that’ll be an even harder process. 

Why are you reading this if you have no anti-virus installed!? The first and last step to safety & security is to install an anti-virus. I personally recommend using Avast! It’s fast, light on your PC, super-effective against both viruses and spyware and the price is just right: freee!

Scan Dat Thang

Hackers and virus-creators often use removable disks(such as your Flash Drive) to spread their malicious programs. It’s the most common way of spreading them and as such, you must always scan the flash drive with your anti-virus before using it. All it takes is right-clicking on your flash drive in My Computer and click on “Scan with Avast!”

Activate Windows Firewall

Your firewall is like a sentry guarding the gates to your computer from the Internet, it controls which data is allowed to come in and which data is permitted to come out. Although many more powerful firewalls are available, Window’s very own firewall is the best for the everyday user.

Open up your Control Panel, click on “Security Center” and activate Windows Firewall from there.

Keep your software updated

The people behind the software you use fix various issues each time they announce an update. Keeping your installed software up-to-date is of great importance.

All you need to do is install and then run the Update Checker from FileHippo.com. Job done!

Regularly scan your computer

It’s perfectly normal for a cunning virus to evade your antivirus’ real-time scanner. This is where the on-demand scanner comes into play

People stay away from scanning their computers by giving rather lame excuses, “It slows my computer down!” Here’s a suggestion: just scan it overnight!  It’s highly recommended that you do this at least once every month.

Keep your security software updated

Lots; nay, hundreds of viruses are released into the wild daily. Make sure you keep your antivirus updated so it can kick their ass! Most antivirus’ do this themselves i.e. they auto-update, however if you don’t have an always-on connection, you’ll have to update it yourself. Right-clicking on your antivirus’ icon in the system tray and clicking on “update” usually works out.

Look at file-size before downloading

Let’s face it. People do use torrents and P2P clients like LimeWire to illegally download songs, movies and/or install full-price software for free. I can’t stop you if you do as such. I’m here to give you tips!

So here’s what you do: look at the file’s size before you download it! Adobe Photoshop CS4 can’t be squashed into a meager 437KB file, can it? Nor can a Kings of Leon song be packed into 17.1KBs! These are actual viruses! Virus-creator-people just change the name of the file to make it look like a full file. 

Use an updated internet browser

The internet is the base of operations for most, if not all, the malware out there. Protect yourself by using an Internet browser that is updated. Dump Internet Explorer, move on to Firefox! It’s cinch to install!

Famous Last Words

Your security software can only take you so far. After that ‘far’ point, your computer’s security depends entirely upon you and you alone. So stay on your toes while using your computer, that next click may as well spell doom for you if you don’t consider what’s BEYOND that click.