11 Steps to Help Protecting Your PC against Viruses

 

11 Steps to Help Protecting Your PC against Viruses

Viruses are not the only enemy we can find on the Internet. Online scams are also of concern. We explain how to protect your data and avoid fraud using some basic tips. In the same way that to take care of our health we care about putting ourselves in the best hands, our computer (and in general our digital devices) should be equipped with the best Antivirus Software & Total Security systems.

Having an efficient antivirus is not the only protection barrier against malware , but we will also have to do our bit with proper use of the PC and the Internet in order to protect our private information as much as possible.

It would be something like putting on a seat belt once we get behind the wheel. Every car has its own passive safety measures , but responsible driving is ultimately up to us. For all this, below we will tell you what keys to take into account to maximize the security of our computer against viruses, malware and scams such as phishing .

Protect your computer from viruses and other threats

As with driving safety that we mentioned above, antivirus offers us security barriers against all kinds of threats, but our maxim has to be "you have to think before you click". Especially when we surf the Internet or check the mail, where everything that is not reliable must be avoided.

Antivirus

·     Installation: yes, it is logical. But we could not miss the first and most essential step when it comes to having the best security and protection on our computer. It is not another tip than to buy, install and configure antivirus. If you are not very knowledgeable, you can always ask for help from the experts in the Solutions and Services areas.

·     Protection against spyware: not all antivirus have this feature and we may need another extra program. The spyware is a type of malware (malicious software) that, as its name suggests, spy our computer information and extracted without our consent.

·     Keep your antivirus up to date: most antivirus has limited subscription periods. After that time (months, years) has passed, the security system remains installed but inactive if we do not renew it.

·     Perform gradual scans: antivirus can be programmed to perform analysis of our PC at regular intervals. For example, once a week and, better if it is at night or while we eat, when we do not need to use our computer.

Wi-Fi and navigation

Beware of fake download buttons: it is essential not to fall into such simple traps. In the same way, we must avoid all kinds of pop-ups, or pop-ups  that suggest us to click suspiciously. 

·     Avoid public networks: if we are in a cafeteria, the library, or an airport, we must be especially careful when connecting to their public networks (or those that seem to be authorized). Never trust networks without password or encryption.

·         Only secure websites: We must always use web addresses (or URLs) that begin with https: // , the so-called secure hypertext transfer protocol.

Email and social networks

·         Good passwords: if possible, varied. The hackers can steal or decrypt a password, so we have to make it difficult. We do not repeat passwords in different services (online banking, email, social profiles) and that it is alphanumeric (that uses letters and numbers). With allowed symbols and more than 10 characters, better than better. Avoid unreliable messages: many experts will recommend that, directly, we do not open emails with unknown senders. Once again, avoid anything suspicious. Of course, not to mention emails that talks about clicking on a link or claim button.

·         Keep your information safe: above all, we must avoid sharing any private information that is not strictly necessary on digital platforms. As for the data that we have stored, a great alternative to keep it safe is to do back-ups , that is, we regularly copy this data to other devices (such as portable hard drives) or use cloud storage.

Firewall or firewall

A firewall (literally translated as "firewall") is the protection established between a computer and the Network. Windows includes one of its own that we can configure according to our requirements, although we can resort to other possibilities. It is an essential defense against all kinds of threats, and for example, it blocks the entry of malicious pages that can put our system in danger.

Best Antivirus: what does the market offer me?

Here is a selection of the best antivirus. Big names like McAfee, Panda, Protegent Antivirus,  Kaspersky, and Norton  offer some of the most sophisticated software packages to protect our computers. McAfee can be especially interesting if we are thinking of changing PCs ,  since if it is bought together with a new computer its price is USD $10 instead of USD $65. In addition, in the new Solutions and Services space you can take it for USD $16 and with free installation.