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10 Tips to Keep Your Computer Virus-Free
10. Use common sense.
It's always better to err on the side of safety. If you're
unsure about an attachment, delete it. Especially if it's
from a source you don't recognize. If there are tempting
animations on a site that look highly unprofessional, don't
download them.
9. Scan floppies before
using them. This is always important, but especially if
you are using the disk to carry information between one
computer and another. You could easily pick up a virus from
an insecure network and introduce it into your system.
Running a virus scan before launching any of the programs on
the disk will prevent infection.
8. Don't share floppies.
Even a well-meaning friend may unknowingly pass along a
virus, Trojan horse, or worm. Label your floppies clearly so
you know they're yours and don't loan them out. If a friend
passes you a foreign floppy, suggest an alternative method
of file sharing.
7. Don't boot from a
floppy disk. Floppies are one of the most common ways
viruses are transmitted. If you are using a floppy while
working on your computer, remove it when you shut the
machine off or the computer will automatically try to boot
from the floppy, perhaps launching any viruses on the disk.
6. Don't download
unknown programs from the Web. Unreliable sources such as
Internet newsgroups or Web sites that you haven't heard of
may be willing providers of viruses for your computer. Avoid
downloading files you can't be sure are safe. This includes
freeware, screensavers, games, and any other executable
program - any files with an ".exe" or
".com" extension, such as "coolgame.exe."
Check to see if the site has anti-virus software running on
their side. If you do have to download from the Internet, be
sure to scan each program before running it. Save all
downloads to one folder, then run virus checks on everything
in the folder before using it.
5. Update your
anti-virus software frequently. An anti-virus program is
only as good as the frequency with which it is updated. New
viruses, worms, and Trojan horses are born daily, and
variations of them can slip by software that is not current.
Norton
Antivirus™ has a feature that searches for new virus
definitions every time you go online, so you are always
up to date.
4. Get immediate
protection. Configure your anti-virus software to boot
automatically on start-up and run at all times. This will
provide you back-up protection in case you forget to scan an
attachment, or decide not to. And in case you forget to boot
up your anti-virus software, configuring it to start by
itself will ensure you get immediate protection anyway.
3. Scan all incoming
email attachments. Be sure to run each attachment you
plan to open through the anti-virus check. Do this even if
you recognize and trust the sender; malicious code, like
Trojan horses, can slip into your system by appearing to be
from a friendly source.
2. Don't automatically
open attachments. Be sure your email program doesn't
automatically download attachments. This will ensure that
you can examine and scan attachments before they run. Refer
to your email program's safety options or preferences menu
for instructions.
1. Install reliable
anti-virus software. Anti-virus software scans files
regularly for unusual changes in file size, programs that
match the software's database of known viruses, suspicious
email attachments, and other warning signs. It's the most
important step you can take towards keeping your computer
clean of viruses. Norton
Antivirus™ is the world's leading anti-virus software.
It runs continuously in the background of your computer,
providing constant protection from viruses, Trojan horses,
worms, and other malicious code. To stay up-to-date on the
latest online threats, Norton
Antivirus™ automatically updates its virus definitions
whenever you're online.
Just in Case. . .
In case a virus finds its way to your computer, due to
carelessness, an accident, or anti-virus software that
hasn't been updated since you got it for your birthday last
year, at least be prepared. Use software such as Norton
Ghost™ to create a backup copy of your computer's hard
drive. This way you can revert to the clean, undamaged
version of your computer. Only in extreme
circumstances will you need to reformat or delete your
entire hard drive, so don't panic and delete all your files.
Usually if your anti-virus program can find the virus, it
can get rid of it too.
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