COMPUTER NETWORK: HOW TO AVOID VIRUSES ON THE INTERNET| Antivirus

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               AVOID VIRUSES ON THE INTERNET

A computer virus, whatever it is, is at best an inconvenience for you; or disaster if it hits the heart of your business. Cisco recently reported ransomware growth of almost 350% from the previous year, as malware and malicious viruses continue to be a constant threat .

So what simple steps can you take to protect your computer from a virus and thereby protect your network?

Avoid virus on the internet antivirus


Step 1: Install trusted antivirus software

The simplest, but most often overlooked piece of advice: It's imperative that all computers have reliable antivirus software - and not just any free antivirus software.
Malware and computer viruses are getting more and more sophisticated . The situation demands a professional and paid solution to provide adequate protection that is truly capable of detecting the latest threats.


But why pay for something you can get for free? Well, licensed antivirus software offers the following advantages: It is updated regularly, which allows it to adapt to evolving threats in near real time, guarantees protection against the broadest spectrum of risks , allows the user to perform additional functions, for example a personalized scan in case of suspected virus.


Step 2: Update your antivirus software

There is no point in paying for anti-virus software if you don't update it. Your computer will remind you when an update is in progress; so please run it.

Viruses evolve in near perpetual motion, and you can only stay protected if you keep up to date. The majority of viruses have an extremely short lifespan, but even so, they can infect more than 300,000 computers per day because users fail to protect themselves against the latest threats.


But by regularly performing software updates, even the most frequently deployed malware will have a hard time getting onto your computer. Some malicious online casinos are known to harvest your data against your will. To prevent this problem, you must of course find out about reliable casinos upstream on CritiqueJeu.com for example, but if you visit a fraudulent site despite this, an effective antivirus will warn you and prevent the theft of your personal and banking data.


Step 3: Enable real-time spyware detection

Not all antivirus programs are created equal, and spyware protection doesn't always mean real-time detection. Free solutions usually only alert users to a threat once the computer is infected, which involves treating the symptom, not the cause. While some licensed anti-spyware systems actively prevent the virus from infecting the system in the first place , simultaneously removing existing infections - if they had already installed themselves.


Step 4: Schedule anti-virus scans - weekly (... at least!)

You have the software, and it's up to date. Now schedule a scan to be performed at least once a week. The occasional threat might escape the strongest virus protection, but a scan will uncover any impending threats.


Yes, scanning the hard drive can slow down the processing speed of the system , possibly rendering the machine unusable for a short time. But instead of closing the scan at an inconvenient time, schedule them at the end of your workday, when you know you don't need your computer.


Step 5: Update your operating system

Installing a sophisticated threat detection system is essential, but sometimes your operating system can let you down. Fortunately, operating system developers frequently release fixes for any security vulnerabilities. So whether you're using Windows, Mac OS, Linux - or any other system, for that matter - stay on top of the latest developer updates.


Step 6: Turn off auto launch and image previews

Many viruses are installed automatically via an external hard drive or any other medium that the user can attach to a computer. Automatic programs can introduce the infection long before virus protection finds time to do something about it. Disabling automatic execution can therefore prevent such an accident. Likewise, a malicious email could use code embedded in a graphic to launch an attack with an action as simple as opening a preview of the image.


Step 7: Verify the sender; and “Think before you click”.

An impulsive click can be the root of many ailments. So, before you act too fast, think: "Do I recognize the sender's email address (the address is often the first clue of phishing content)? "Am I 100% sure this link (or attachment) is safe?" Anyway, did I scan the files (always scan before a download - or verify that an auto-scan was successful)?


Even friends can be tricked into re-sharing infected content. It is always useful to be wary of an offer that is too good to be true; so just delete the email.


Step 8: Verify the Internet address

If a site appears legitimate, we freely give up our information before we realize it is too late. Fortunately, the latest antiviruses can detect a bogus link faster than our own hunches - provided we have this feature enabled.


However, to avoid personal data breach, always check that a website has the correct security certificate (or the correct SSL / HTTPS encryption) and never give out a password, email address or any other sensitive information, except in cases of absolute necessity.


To be sure that a web page is 100% legitimate, open a new browser window, enter the URL of the page and hit the Enter key - now you're sure you're in the right place.


Step 9: Exploit firewalls

The hardware firewall is an effective line of defense against all kinds of malicious exploits. However, many offices still choose to turn off a firewall when employees struggle to connect to a printer, access a network, or perform related tasks - and that could be digital suicide.


All systems connected to the Internet are susceptible to attack. Therefore, all web-connected PCs should also have the added security of a robust hardware firewall.


Step 10: Go for DNS protection

The internet age has brought a myriad of threats to the digital world, so we had to include a final level of defense.


A benign-looking website can harbor malicious intent; the innocent Internet user can download a Trojan file without their knowledge; or a DNS server may be compromised, redirecting a browser to an unknown address.


Services like OpenDNS can protect users against the most common phishing attacks, by making threats appear on the web long before they can cause real harm, thus avoiding unwanted spyware.


While you may need professional IT support to activate the service, the added peace of mind it provides is well worth it.


 

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