The internet is an amazing place that allows each and every one of us easy access to a wide variety of resources. Unfortunately, there is an increasing amount of viruses, worms, spyware and spam that can easily infect your computer. Your computer in fact may already be infected and you may not even know it. If your computer is unusually slow or crashes periodically, it may be infected. In fact, if you do not address the problem with this computer it may in fact infect other computers on your network. The result of a virus or worm attack can include an inability to access the internet, missing icons on your desktop, missing files and many other potential problems. There are ways, however, that you can fight back. Of course before making any changes to your computer, it is always a good idea to make a backup.

FIGHT BACK

1. Run Microsoft Windows Update often.

With new viruses and worms constantly being created, it is important to keep the Microsoft Windows operating system up to date. Go to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com and follow the instructions on screen. By installing the critical updates found on the Windows Update website, you are greatly reducing the chances of your computer from becoming infected.

2. Update the virus pattern of your Anti-Virus software frequently.

Almost all Anti-Virus software programs update automatically, but you will want to check to make sure that this process is taking place. If a new virus is introduced and your pattern file is out of date, you will not be adequately protected against this new threat. I highly recommend the use of Trend Micro PC-Cillin. Unlike other antivirus software programs, it does not tap your system resources by taking up a lot of memory. It also works in a very transparent fashion with continuous pattern updates.

3. Remove Spyware and Adware.

When you visit websites or install new software, you may be inadvertently installing Spyware and Adware onto your computer. Spyware and Adware allows third parties to: (a) monitor the use of your computer over the internet and (b) market specific products to you on the internet based upon the use of your computer. Go to http://www.download.com in order to download and install: (1) Ad-aware and (2) Spybot - Search & Destroy. Properly updated, both of these programs will remove all known Spyware and Adware.

4. Prevent Spam.

A large number of worms and viruses are distributed through spam email. The first step in preventing spam is to not post your email address on a website. If you need to provide a means for contacting you via email, you will want to create a submission form that does not display your MAILTO in the code/page source of your webpage. You may need to contact a web designer in order to properly implement this process into your website. Another method is to use the Master Spambot Buster which works just like a MAILTO link but without displaying your email address in the code for bots to pick up.

In addition, you should always use Private Registration when registering a domain name for a website. If you go to http://www.netsol.com and do a WHOIS on your website, you do not want to see your email address publicly displayed in your domain record. Automated programs called robots regularly crawl websites such as this looking to pick up email addresses for use by companies that spam. If robots on the internet have already picked up your email address, you will of course want to use some form of spam prevention. Many web based mail programs already allow you the ability to prevent spam. However, many mail clients on business networks do not have this functionality. There are a variety of products in the marketplace to address this problem, but one of the most popular is http://www.spamarrest.com. By using Spamarrest.com, you manage who you allow or do not allow to receive email from. When someone sends you an email for the first time, they must verify that they sent you an email. If they do not, the email is placed in your unverified folder on Spamarrest.com’s web servers. All blocked mail is then placed in Spamarrest.com’s spam folder. Meanwhile all approved mail is sent as it normally would directly to your computer’s Inbox.

CONSULT A PROFESSIONAL

Although the software described here is easily used, different hardware and software configurations can lead to unexpected results that may damage your computer. If you are experiencing difficulties with viruses, worms, spyware or spam, you may want to consult a professional.

This information collected by: Smartnetadmin.com