You may have heard that computers can get viruses or malware, but maybe you don’t know much more than that. It’s true: Malware is a real threat to your computer. But there are ways you can protect yourself. In this guide, we’ll walk through some basic steps for staying safe online in the age of malware.
1. Keep your software updated
The first thing you should do is make sure that your software is up-to-date. This means updating your operating system, apps, and browsers. It also means keeping your security software updated (anti-malware and antivirus), as well as updating the firmware of your router and any other devices connected to it (modems).
If you’re using an old version of Windows or macOS that doesn’t have automatic updates enabled by default–or if you’ve disabled them because they were interfering with something else on your computer–it’s important to check for updates manually every week or so. If there are any available patches available for download in this period between checks, they’ll automatically be downloaded during these checks if they’re deemed necessary by Microsoft or Apple.
2. Use a trusted security software
You should always use a trusted security software. This means that you should avoid using free versions of security software, outdated versions of your current anti-malware program and pirated copies of any kind. These can all be infected with malware themselves, which can make it easier for attackers to get into your computer system.
3. Avoid clicking on links from untrusted sources
- Don’t click on links from untrusted sources
- Don’t click on links from unknown senders
- Don’t open email attachments from unknown senders
- Avoid clicking on links in emails, social media posts and other messages that you aren’t sure are legitimate.
4. Do not open email attachments from unknown senders
- Do not open email attachments from unknown senders. If you receive an email with an attachment, delete it immediately.
- Do not click on links in emails that are suspicious or seem like spam. Instead, type the web address directly into your browser’s address bar to access the site directly (for example: https://www).
Keep your computer virus-free by using good practices
The best way to stay safe is to use good practices.
- Use a trusted antivirus software that’s updated regularly and always keep it running in the background on your computer. If you’re using an older version of Windows, consider upgrading to Windows 10 so that Microsoft can automatically update your system with new security patches as they come out.
- Don’t click on links from untrusted sources or open attachments from unknown senders–and don’t just trust email addresses! Sometimes hackers will spoof their emails so they look like they’re coming from someone else (like PayPal). This way, once you click their link or open their attachment, malware will be installed on your device without any intervention from you at all!
We hope that you have found this article helpful, and we encourage you to share it with others who may need some advice on how to stay safe in today’s digital age. We all know how important it is to protect ourselves from malware and viruses, so we want everyone out there doing what they can do protect themselves from harm!
