A virus is a type of malware (malicious program) that contains small codes attached to harmless software. When the software starts running, the virus does too. A virus can get inside PC files without the user being aware of it.
Tips to Avoid Getting Infected by a Virus
In order to avoid getting infected by this type of malware, follow these tips:
- Pay attention to the programs you install and set up on your device: viruses are able to hide inside programs or apps that you might not believe are dangerous.
- Keep your personal data secure: a lot of hackers will try to access your files via social engineering. This means they will try to get access to your online accounts, continuing from one account to another until they gain enough data to access your banking information or entirely steal your identity. Therefore, be careful when on social media and message boards. Make sure to keep privacy settings at the highest level and don’t use your real name on discussion boards.
- Do not click attachments from unknown senders: if you receive an email from someone you don’t know or even one you weren’t expecting, proceed with extreme caution. This is the most common way malware affects PCs.
- Have different passwords: make sure you use strong passwords, especially for your bank account, which should be different from passwords you are using for other accounts.
- Log out before you leave: even if you have an extremely strong password, if you don’t log out of a website after you’ve visited it, especially if you’re on a public PC, you might be vulnerable to attacks. That’s because an individual with some IT knowledge could easily access your login data from session cookies and log in to the website pretending to be you.
Use Comprehensive Antivirus
Antivirus does exactly that… it fights against, among other threats, viruses. Your device(s) need to be defended from both known and emerging malware that can cause a lot of damage to your personal and business life, alike.
Also, make sure your antivirus software is always up-to-date, because if it becomes outdated, it will be more vulnerable to ever-developing threats, implying that it won’t be able to continue identifying and combating them.
Your best bet here would be an antivirus that updates automatically, so that you won’t be interrupted while you are working on your device and you won’t have to remember to keep updating it yourself.
Best Antivirus Software of 2024
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