By: Jay Stamford
Submitted: 2011-04-22 06:48:01 | Word Count: 557
This May, more than 300,000 people - triple that of the second-most-reported virus that day - were infected by a viral application on Facebook known as the "Sexiest video ever." As one of the leading social media sites on the Internet, with over 400 million users nationwide, Facebook is the premier destination for people to communicate with their friends. But even the seemingly friendly confines of sites like Facebook can be infiltrated by computer deviants.
The virus asked Facebook users to install a media player update that was actually a malicious spyware-inducing program before posting the same viral link on all of the user's friends' walls. Trusting victims quickly fell for the farce, as the bug showed how swift and treacherous malware can be.
The google redirect virus and the svchost.exe virus are examples of dangerous spyware. With so many online threats, Internet users need to be prepared with the knowledge of how to combat and prevent computer viruses. "Furthermore, it is also good for users to read about the latest viruses so they can stay educated and on the lookout for suspicious files or signs of infection," recommends author Bruce C. Brown in How to Stop E-mail Spam, Spyware, Malware, Computer Viruses, and Hackers from Ruining Your Computer or Network: The Complete Guide for Your Home and Work. Following these dos and don'ts will arm users with the capability to defend against a computer virus:
Do:
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· Use anti-spyware, anti-malware, or anti-spam applications in addition to antivirus software for full protection.
· Always keep checking whether your antivirus is updated and enabled.
· Install a reputable personal firewall, which is a software or hardware barrier that protects your computer against unauthorized access.
· Keep track of background processes whenever your system slows down or malfunctions and terminate any suspicious processes.
· Always scan flash drives and external drives with antivirus software before opening them to ensure they are virus free.
· Avoid porn, pirating, and other malicious sites. Use a browser with pop-up blockers.
· Scan CDs and DVDs with anti-virus software before installing any software or accessing any files on the discs.
· If a picture or movie file you opened causes a change in system performance or other unusual activity you likely executed a virus or malware. Run a complete system scan for viruses, spyware, and malware.
Don't:
· Don't use more than one antivirus application at a time; otherwise they will conflict.
· Don't click on suspicious looking icons on your desktop.
· Don't open a USB/pen drive directly by double clicking it. Always open it by typing its drive letter (for example, G:) in the address bar which helps prevent accidental launch of infected files.
· Don't open files sent to you by strangers over the Internet.
· Don't accept or decline an unknown file sent over instant message; simply close your conversation window.
· Don't accept or send Webcam or voice chat requests from or to a stranger.
Using antivirus software will eliminate a common virus, but some malware are not detected by antivirus software programs. By following these guidelines, Internet users will be better able to secure their computers and halt viruses before they infect.
