Some adult people claim they have perfect teeth even though they never had a dental checkup. Try selling theses guys on the benefits of seeing a dentist twice a year. But if you could at least convince them to visit a dentist once, just to prove their point, X-rays may reveal several cavities hiding inside their teeth. Similarly, your computer could have viruses, worms, trojans, and other malware lurking undetected inside your computer just waiting for the right moment to pounce.
So, how do you protect yourself and your data against viruses and worms? First, install anti-virus software on your computer. This software will scan the contents of your computer’s memory and check for all known viruses. If it comes across some malicious software, it will contain it. Similar programs scan files you download form various sources, lowering the chances of infection.
Most anti-virus software come with automatic updates. Make sure you set the software to visit the author’s site at least once a day to get updates. The bad guys are continually writing new programs, which means your current protection is only good until the next virus appears. Good anti-virus programs keep their database of viruses current to keep up with new malware. So to avoid infection you must to do the same.
You can also protect against malware by following a few simple guidelines. First, avoid downloading content from unfamiliar websites. Many people offer free stuff that might contain malware. If you need a specific download, go to one of the trusted free download sites like download.com. Only open e-mails, and especially, e-mails attachments from trusted sources. Don’t let curiosity get the better of you.
Remember curiosity killed the cat; it can also kill your computer and cause someone to steal your personal information.