Help IT
Help IT
15 Arbroath Road
Dundee
DD4 6EW
Tel: 01382 454608
helpit@craigowl.com
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VirusesA virus is malicious software which will cause you no end of problems. This can result in your computer appearing to run slowly and can, in worst case scenarios, result in the loss of all data stored on the computer's hard drive. How are they spread?Out of the top ten ways in which viruses are spread most people use at least four of them. Web browsers, file sharing, E-mail and instant messaging are in popular use by most computer users and because of this your computer is at risk. Stopping viruses
Viruses have to be activated by the computer user, usually unwittingly, so the first step in protecting your computer would be wary of attachments that are received via email. One of the characteristics of a virus is that it uses the infected computer’s email address book to find the next potential victim. Protecting your computer.It is vital that your computer has anti-virus software installed, but having this software installed is not enough on its own. With new viruses being released every day your anti-virus software may not recognise the threat and will not warn you. This is why the anti-virus software has to be updated on a regular basis, daily even, but again this is not enough. The program has to be run to check that there are no previously unrecognised viruses that have managed to get through your defences. What anti-virus to use.There are many different anti-virus programs on the market and the final choice has to be yours. A search on Google Will return many different products and a further search for free software Will also return many different options. As with all software you need to be aware of the licence limitations and select one that meets your requirements. SpywareDo you find that when your computer is being used that there are a large amount of advertising pop-ups or your home page has changed and you are being taken to web pages that you never requested. If this is the case then your system is infected with spyware. How do I get Spyware
Spyware has to be installed on your machine by the user. This is usually done without the user’s knowledge. A common way for spyware to infiltrate your system is when it gets installed claiming to be a useful tool, for example a web accelerator or some form of helpful software agent. The spyware can also be installed at the same time as another program, for example a file sharing or music program. These are usually shareware products not full commercial products. Stopping spyware.Ensure that you computer has the latest released patches from Microsoft. With the upgrade to Service Pack 2 automatic upgrades should already be enabled and you will be informed when they are ready to be installed. Using an alternate Web Browser will also reduce the chances of infection. Using Firefox can reduce the dangers. Using care when closing pop-up windows can also help. Do not select yes or no on pop-up questions, instead close the window by using the exit button on the top right hand side. Finally only install programmes that have been downloaded from reputable web sites. Removing spywareEven with the greatest of care there is still the possibility that spyware will find its way onto your computer. To remove them you will need software that will do this job. There are many different, free, anti-spyware products that can be used. A visit to PcWorld.com (nothing to do with the retailer) will give you many different choices. It is sometimes worth having more than one anti-spyware product as one may find something that another one will miss. Just like anti-virus software, anti-spyware software needs to be updated and run on a regular basis. Prevention is better than cure.Stopping the threat is a much better solution than trying to cure an infected computer. Introducing a user policy can help to reduce any potential threats. If you need to discuss anything to do with viruses or spyware please get in touch with us and we will be happy to help. Printer Friendly Version |
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