IT Support Newcastle

How to stay clear of viruses

By Paul W. in Support | 07/07/2011

Spyware, Adware, Malware, Worms, Trojans – the list is endless

Computer viruses have evolved, and it’s simply not an option to ignore them.  The modern virus is no longer there only to destroy your files, but to grab your personal information too.

Think about it.  You enter bank details, addresses, and credit card details every day across the internet, but is there a virus sitting on your PC listening to every keystroke you make, and sending that information back to someone else?  It’s more important than ever to keep up to date with your protection.

There are hundreds of pieces of software out there that will help to check for spyware etc, but the minimum requirements for you to keep on top of in terms of viruses and hacks are:

• Keep your preventative software up to date; if it’s expired then renew it
• Make sure regular updates of virus definitions are scheduled
• Ensure that you perform some form of scheduled scan – on a weekly basis at minimum
• Ensure you have a firewall in place (at least a personal software-based firewall if it’s your home pc)

Most good security suites for home users these days will incorporate AV/Firewall/Spyware etc in one package.  This is a good way to ensure blanket protection.  Just make sure that it’s kept up to date!

If you would like to discuss your IT security, or to purchase antivirus software from us, simply get in touch using this link.