There are a few basic rules that computer users should follow to
short-circuit viruses. The best known bit of advice is this: Never open any
attachment unless you know who it's from and why they are sending it. Refusing
to open unsolicited e-mail of any kind is the only sure-fire way to sidestep
all forms of trouble.
Anti-virus software is now trendy way to prevent from virus attacks, but
this strategy only works if users update their software time to time.Updating
it weekly, also you can set your antivirus to get updated automatically from company,
but file downloads can be large and slow.Antiviru updation is also not possible
for user who rarely use internet.
Factors to consider when buying an anti-virus package include cost, quality
of tech support, how frequently the package self-updates and the platforms supported
by the program.
It would be your intelligency to fight against viruses. Be wary of opening
any email attachments, even from your firends , especially if it has been
forwarded to them.Set up your anti-virus product so that it automatically scans
incoming e-mail and avoiding e-mail software that allows automatic launching of
attachments.
If all of this sounds like a lot of work, it is. There is always a tradeoff
between ease of use and security but the extra time you spend updating your
anti-virus software now will save you hours of time and buckets of frustration
later.If you don't keep it updated, you might was well be completely
unprotected.
So before we read prevention,let us know about what exactly virus is.
Virus
A computer virus is a program or piece of
code that is loaded onto
your computer without your knowledge and runs against your wishes. Viruses can
also replicate themselves. All
computer viruses are
man-made. A simple virus that can make a
copy of itself over and over
again is relatively easy to produce. Even such a simple virus is dangerous
because it will quickly use all available
memory and bring the
system to a halt. An
even more dangerous type of virus is one capable of transmitting itself across
networks and bypassing
security systems.
Prevention
1. Be sure do a full back up of your system on a regular basis. The best way
to clean up an infected file is to replace it with an original non-infected
file. Current back up will save if a virus takes your system completely down.
It's also a good idea to keep more than one set of backup in case the current
one is infected before the virus is detected.
2. Always use an anti-virus software program, one with both an on-demand and
an on-access scanner. You'll want to look for one that has a fairly complete
database of viruses and that is updateable. New viruses are produced daily, so
it's important to have software that can detect the latest threat.You can
submit report via antivirus about threat you are facing as feedback.According
to this feedback software engineers will have research and will update
antivirusaccording to new threat.
3. Update the virus database in your anti-virus program regularly (each
month or by the direction of the manufacturer).
4. On a PC, change the CMOS setting of your boot up process from booting
first on the A drive (floppy) and then on the C drive (hard drive) to just
booting on the C drive. This will not only speed up your boot up process but
also completely eliminate the risk of infecting your hard drive with an
infected floppy disk.
If you should need to boot from a floppy you can easily change the settings
back and reboot from the A drive. Please note: an infected non-bootable floppy
disk can just as easily infect your hard drive as would an infected bootable
one.
5. Don't allow your web browser to automatically run programs, such as MS
Word or other programs through its e-mail program. Configure your browser to
launch WordPad or Notepad instead. One of the biggest and growing threats is
the macro virus, which is spread through data processing and spread sheet
programs
6. Configure your web browsers to disable ActiveX, Java, and Javascript.
You'll lose some of the fun the Web's been known for, but you'll save your
computer from contracting a virus and speed up your connection.You can do this
by doing setting in browser you are using.
7. Know that the only way a virus spreads is either by launching an infected
file or by booting an infected disk. You can not get a virus by simply being
online or by reading e-mail. You have to download and launch an infected file
before it will spread. Therefore, do not launch any unsolicited executable
files sent via e-mail.
8. Using an updated anti-virus program, scan all new software for viruses
before installing them on your hard drive. Even shrink-wrapped software from
major publishers has been known to contain viruses.