Antivirus Software - Find Antivirus Software - Websites with Free Antivirus Software
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How your computer gets infected. Viruses can be written into almost any type of file and usually enter your system through files added to your computer by floppy disks or Zip disks, or from downloading files from the Internet. You can also get a virus through an e-mail attachment, or in some instances, viruses can be hidden in the email itself, rather than in an attachment. Usually the virus is activated by simply opening an infected file. However, more recent worms have taken advantage of security holes in some of Microsoft’s software and can be activated simply by reading an email. They will then automatically send themselves to everyone in your computer's address book. Don’t open email attachments from people you don’t know. Although this will help, be aware that some viruses which use address books to spread themselves, will appear to come from friends and colleagues, and therefore give the impression they are safe. Get some anti-virus software. There are many programs (called virus protection software, anti-virus software, or virus checks) that will check your system for known viruses, scan incoming files and emails, and warn you before any infected files are let in. If you do not already have any virus protection software, you should install some and set it immediately scan your hard drive. If it finds a virus, it will usually offer you the option to delete it and repair files if it can. Once you have ensured your computer is “clean”, make a backup of your data, so you can restore it should you have a problem in the future. Update your anti-virus software regularly. Buying and installing the software is not enough. New viruses are released every day and it is important to regularly update your software so that its database includes information concerning the new viruses. This can usually be done by selecting an update option in your software which then downloads the update from the vendor’s website. You can usually set up the software to remind you to update Update/patch your version of Windows and Outlook/Outlook Express. Viruses take advantage of security holes in these programs, so making sure you have the latest version will help. |