Protect Your Computer from Viruses and Hacks
So you’re surfing the web finding some important information for your next term paper or that your 4th great grandfather was Abraham Lincoln on a genealogy site when a window pops up and says: “YOURE INFECTED – CLICK HERE TO CLEAN”. You think, hmm.. that’s odd my virus software didn’t catch it so you click “CLEAN NOW”. All of a sudden pop-up windows start coming on the screen faster than you can close them down. You’re bombarded with advertisements, pop-ups, and no matter what you do you can’t get rid of them. Even after rebooting, your browsers home page becomes “ANTI SPYWARE CLEAN only $49.95.” Trouble is, you’re already stuck.
Malware is any software that will make it difficult to continue your computing experience, and includes Viruses, Trojans, Hacks, Worms, Phishing Scams, and Hoaxes. Malware is becoming not only prevalent but the perpetrators who make it are getting more sophisticated to disrupt your computer and often to try to extort money for merely removing the code they tricked you into installing on your computer. How to protect yourself in the potential dangerous world of Cyberspace? Here’s a few tips:
1. NEVER EVER EVER accept, agree, or click yes to anything you don’t know why you’re doing it or you haven’t asked for it. With the protection today on most computers, it is difficult for malicious code to be installed on your computer UNLESS you say “yes” to something. If something wants you to “Click Here” and you don’t know why – don’t do it!
2. DON’T TRUST ANYTHING no matter what it says. Those unscrupulous people who create Malware are getting trickier trying to get you to say “yes” so they can install their nasty stuff on your PC. They will create a popup that tells you you’re infected, they’ll claim to be your bank, they’ll tell you they have a gazillion dollars just waiting to deposit in your account…they just need to know your account number.
You even have to be suspicious of Emails and Facebook notices. If you’re friend sends you a link, don’t click it unless you’re sure it won’t harm you. Some worms and viruses will get into an Email account, and send itself to everyone of the contacts. All it takes is for you to receive an email from your friend, for you to open it, and boom, you become an unwilling accomplice to further the attack of a worm, virus, or trojan.
3. GET SOME PROTECTION and UNDERSTAND IT. There is some great software out there to help you protect yourself, some of it is even free. Get some antivirus software and a firewall installed on your PC and then keep it updated. The only time you should trust an alert or pop up is when it is coming from the Virus Software you yourself have installed on your computer.
Microsoft has this web site to help you find some software protection: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/antivirus-partners/windows-7.aspx
4. SHUT IT DOWN. Even when you’re protected and doing things right, sometimes you can still be hit with a pop-up wanting to install something. The only thing you should click in a pop-up that is offering something you don’t want is the little red X in the upper right hand corner of the pop-up window. There are some particularly nasty pop-ups that are extremely persistent and won’t take NO for an answer, what then? Sometimes clicking the red x won’t be enough. You may have to close your browser all together or if you know how to use the task manager to shut down unwanted processes, you can use that. But whenever something starts happening that you haven’t asked for you need to shut it down as judiciously as possible without letting it installing itself.
5.KNOW A TRUSTED PROFESSIONAL who can help remove the virus. Even if you’re doing everything right, there may be a time you get infected. That’s the time when you don’t want to hesitate to call a trusted professional who can save your data, stop the virus and help get you back on your way.
At ProTechTus we’ve dealt with boot sector viruses, web viruses and some really nasty malware that make computing impossible. If you find yourself in need of some friendly helpful experts, give us a call we’d be happy to help solve the problem, make sure you’re protected and get you back working promptly.
Contact us at 801-842-7624 or at www.ProTechTus.com
You can find a lot more information on how to protect yourself online at:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/portal/Shared/Help.aspx#prevention