How do viruses get onto my computer?
The most common way your computer gets infected is through emails,
sometimes the emails can appear to come from a person you know
and trust, so be on your guard when accepting any files from known
and unknown sources.
Another way for your computer to become infected is disk, usually
through floppy disk, though occasionally through CD Rom. An infected
floppy disk may come from other users who probably will not even
realize a virus has been passed onto the disk through their computer.
How can I protect my PC against viruses?
Get yourself a good anti virus package, this will greatly reduce
the risk of a virus being able to affect your PC, though you must
make sure that you update your package as up to 400 new viruses
can be released in one month.
Viruses are often spread by messenger or outlook express. Outlook
address book can become infected, thus sending semi plausible
emails from the affected user to everyone listed in their address
book. Make sure you are ultra cautious, don't open any files attached
to an email from an unknown source, or even from a known person
if you are not expecting an attachment.
Trojans
Trojans are another good reason to get an anti virus package.
These programs will allow anyone on the internet to be able to
control your PC remotely, they will allow the creator to collect
all your passwords, access all your accounts including your email,
they will be able to read and modify all your documents and listen
to your conversations on your PC microphone, and you won't even
know it is happening.
To protect your PC against trojans you will need to install some
anti trojan software and a personal firewall.
Return
to Computer Trouble Shooting Index
