Computer viruses

There is nothing more clouded in mystery and media hype then the humble computer virus. Computer viruses, supposedly, have been responsible for practically every technological ill and glitch in the past decade. In reality, however, the computer virus is a simple creature. If you take adequate precautions, stay away from websites that you do not trust, and do not open e-mail attachments from people that you don't know, you can protect yourself from almost every computer virus out there.

This doesn't mean that sane, cautious behavior is a substitute for having the right computer software. The two approaches complement each other. At the very least, you need the latest computer anti virus software installed on your desktop. Many people get computer virus scans not realizing that they have to update their software continually. Several times a year, a new Internet worm or Trojan horse virus is released, preying on insecure computer systems that are not protected. If you have a computer firewall, antivirus program, and updated Windows partition, you will be fine. Otherwise, you could be in trouble. Computer viruses cause millions and millions of dollars of damage every year. Although no one knows the exact figure, we do know that easily preventable computer virus infections account for huge amounts of personal and financial loss. Don't be another victim – protect yourself from computer viruses.

This doesn't mean that you should download the first spyware remover or virus protection program that you find. One of the sneakiest computer virus tricks ever made is to pose as a spyware protection program. These Trojan horse viruses come into your computer as anti virus programs. That way, they do not have to sneak in on their own – you install them yourself. They then can hijack your system, using it to send out spam, crashing it, destroying the data, or any combination of the above. Only get a computer antivirus from a trusted provider. Never just simply download one because it comes up on the Internet.

Of course, you can be protected from the computer virus without completely eliminating your vulnerability to spyware. Although every once in awhile a computer virus comes around that causes a lot of trouble, most of the minor computer problems that people have from day to day are caused by spyware. It slows down your web browser, makes your computer less stable and less private, and generally makes your life miserable. In addition to a computer virus scan, you also need to get a spyware removal tool.