Most Common Ways Of Getting A Virus, And How You Can Avoid Them.
Well, We all know they are out there and we all know how to use antivirus software but still one of the most common question I get is “How did I get this?”
Performing one of these actions causes most of today’s infections:
1) Downloading or Installing unknown Software, Shareware or Freeware
2) Clicking on a link in an email.
3) Clicking on a link in an instant message like MSN or ICQ.
4) Clicking on a link in Facebook.
5) Not clearing Temp Internet files and cookies after surfing Internet.
6) Running an unsecured network or out of date software.
It used to be that Hackers created viruses for bragging rights. It was satisfying (and sometimes lucrative) to see how many systems they could gain control of. Today though, it’s big business. Back in the day they wanted you to know that you were infected. Sometimes a large message would come up on the screen informing you that you had been infected, and then it would destroy your hard drive. Now they don’t want you to know that they are there and go to great lengths to try and make your computer run as if nothing is wrong.
They run quietly and can perform any number of actions. Some record your keystrokes and send them back to their creator who searches for Credit Card Numbers, Bank Account numbers. Some record your browsing history and try to send popups related to your search habits and will usually look for any other useful information they can mine from it. Sometimes they add your computer to what is known as a Bot Net. A Bot Net is a group of computers (sometimes hundreds of thousands large) that can be remotely controlled by the creator to perform tasks without the user even knowing something is going on.
So, now that you have some of the worst case scenarios and I have scared the #@&# out of you, let me give you some tips that you can do to make sure you stay uninfected.
As I have heard over and over again, most viruses can be avoided by practicing “Safe Search”. Here are some tips:
1) Don’t go to websites you don’t know:
If you have seen a website advertised then they are usually safe, but watch out for websites linked from other sites or emails sent to you by email or instant message.
2) Don’t install software from a third party site:
One of the ways these sites will try and trick you into installing a virus are to mask it as something else. Your contacts sends you a link to a website promising something cute (usually without knowing), you click on the link to view the video but are greeted with an error message saying you can’t view it because you don’t have the latest version of Flash “click HERE to download the latest version” it promises. You click and download it to your computer, you follow the instructions to a tee by double clicking on it to install but nothing happens and you still can’t see the video. That’s because that was not the latest version of Flash, but a virus, and now it’s on your computer. If a website tells you that you need a new version of Adobe Flash, shockwave or any other update\install to view the video or file, go to that softwares specific website and install it from them directly.
3) Don’t click on links in Emails, Instant Messages or Facebook:
This may sound harsh but the huge majority of viruses out there are spread this way. The best ways to spot these are generic or vague subject lines or titles. If you see an email in your inbox with the subject “funny video” or “check this out!”and the body is nothing but a link, delete it as fast as you can. Even if it comes from a friend or contact. Most of the time people don’t know they are sending these infected messages. Their computer is infected and a virus is causing it to send these messages to everyone on their contact list. However, most Email providers do scan Emails before they get to you. You can usually see this at the bottom of the email.
4) Clear your temp Internet files and cookies before you shutdown.
Many malware programs are hidden within the code of cookies and do not effect your system until you reboot. Usually these are designed to change your home page or cause uncontrollable popups.
5) Secure your computer:
Antivirus software is great, but for the most part it doesn’t kick in until there is already a problem. Same goes for Malware removal tools. Using a hardware firewall such as a Router is one of the best ways to protect your computer from online attacks. If you have a wireless router, make sure you have enabled the wireless encryption. There are also some very good software firewalls like Zonealarm that perform very well.
6) Stay up to date:
Microsoft releases patches for Windows and Internet Explorer on the second Tuesday of every month. If there is a serious problem that arises, they will sometimes release before that but very rarely. Make sure you download and install these updates as they fix security holes and vulnerabilities. Don’t think your safe if you’re running a Mac either. With the recent increase in Macs market share (up 2% from 5% to7%) even Apple is recommending their users install Antivirus software.
Well there you have it hope this has helped you to understand and protect your system
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