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Selasa, 16 September 2008

Eliminate Computer Virus and Spyware - 7 Tips to Outwit and Eliminate Computer Viruses and Spyware

Computer viruses and spyware are becoming more and more common these days, and with more of our life moving to the online world, we are becoming increasingly vulnerable to attack. We need to be clued up and practice good online habits to outwit the unscrupulous characters out there and eliminate these computer viruses and spyware.
Here are my 7 top tips to avoid the risk of and eliminate computer viruses and spyware and outwit the "digital nasties" and "silicon gremlins":
1) Set up a good solid Firewall and anti-virus software. This is your first line of defence against any virus or malicious software. If you're running Windows, you should already have a free default Firewall, which is fine for most things, but there are a number of high quality, fairly cheap or free Firewalls out there that allow you more functionality.
2) Run regular scans of your hard drive and registry to eliminate computer viruses. Sometimes viruses and malicious software can end up on your system without you knowing. Seemingly harmless programs like Adware, that track your online movements and show ads targeted to you, can open the back door to other forms of malicious software like worms, Spyware and keyloggers. A good virus scanning software will identify all such gremlins and let you zap them into oblivion!
3) Be careful when opening email attachments from unknown senders - they could contain malicious software or viruses. I know the curiosity to open these things can sometimes be strong but the damage to your system or network could be catastrophic.
4) Take care when downloading programs from unrecognized companies. If you're running on a Windows Operating System then a warning window should pop up anytime you come across an unrecognized company. While not always bad, you would do well to be extra vigilant when you see this warning.
5) Beware on P2P networks. The proliferation of Peer-2-Peer file sharing networks and Torrent sites has meant that viruses can spread easily from person to person without either of them knowing. You would do well to make sure all such files are run through an up-to-date virus scanning software to eliminate computer viruses. Some malicious files are deliberately misnamed in order to trick you, so extra care should be taken.
6) Avoid or beware of any files of dubious content. Hackers and the like tend to spread their computer viruses through content on sites that contain pornographic material, illegal downloads, Warez, pirated material and software, etc. It goes without saying that you should avoid these types of sites, but making sure you have a good Firewall and anti-virus system in place will help you to avoid any unsuspected attack and eliminate computer viruses.
7) Avoid leaving your computer idly connected to the internet for long periods of time. This can sometimes lead to attacks on your machine, or situations where your computer is effectively taken over by a hacker and used remotely. Although these cases are rare, it is always good practice to disconnect from the internet when not in use. Those on dial-up connections are more at risk than those on broadband.
How many of your personal details do you enter on your computer on a regular basis? For instance, do you bank online, or pay bills or a credit card? Perhaps you buy gifts and other purchases online? According to CNN, if you use the internet there is a 90% chance that your computer is infected with spyware. How can you be sure that your information is not being viewed by a third party?
How many of your personal details do you enter on your computer on a regular basis? For instance, do you bank online, or pay bills or a credit card? Perhaps you buy gifts and other purchases online? According to CNN, if you use the internet there is a 90% chance that your computer is infected with spyware. How can you be sure that your information is not being viewed by a third party?.By Jake Unsworth