Staying safe from Computer Virus

If you've purchased a computer, or are just learning about using email and the internet, you may be faced with the problem of abnormal function of PC or system hanging problem very soon.

Somewhere down the line, there will be problems with your computer (adware, spyware, viruses, good software gone bad, etc,). Obviously, you should use protection software to prevent as much as possible. Internet is one the major source of computer virus. Usually they enter your program through an email, or while you are browsing a website.

When these programs run, usually without you knowing, they can cause all types of problems with your computer. Some viruses can be mildly annoying, slowing down your computer as they use your computer's resources for another purpose. Others can be very dangerous, collecting your personal information and sending it to another party, or damaging your hard-drive.

Once you realize that you need anti-virus software installed and running on your computer, you'll have to choose which one to purchase and install. This can be a complicated process, but here are some tips to make it a bit easier.

First, check your computer to see if it came with anti-virus software. Many new computers are shipped with anti-virus programs already to go on them, you just need to turn them on. Check your instruction manual to see if this is the case with your computer.

Check with the vendor. If you purchased your computer from a local retailer, check with them to see what anti-virus program they recommend.

I think that the best way to cure virus/worm problems is to prevent them from happening, and the best way to prevent them from happening is through education and awareness. Being a geek, understanding viruses seems to come naturally to me, so I figured I would share information about them with others.

Here's some general tips for staying safe online:

Download and install the Firefox web browser and use it exclusively instead of Internet Explorer. IE is chock full of security holes, and new ones are being found all the time. Using IE is a big liability these days.