Training Guide for Home Computer Maintenance

Written by: Isabella Ava

Computer viruses can seriously disrupt your ability to manage work, keep up with emails and perform any of the hundreds of tasks now routinely assigned to the personal computer. Once your computer has been infected, virus removal can be expensive and time-consuming, depending on the severity of the attack. The best solution is prevention. Learn how to minimize the risk of contagion with good computing practices.

Avoid Questionable Websites

Websites offering questionable services or products are among the greatest risk to your computer's health. Avoid visiting sites that offer illegal downloads or peer-sharing platforms. In general, look for signs of legitimacy, such as an online businesses' real-world presence. Avoid clicking on links to well-known websites from within spam emails. Often they are fake versions of well-known sites.

Download Cautiously

In many cases, visiting suspicious websites isn't what actually gets a person in trouble. The real harm occurs when you begin to download infected programs, whether knowingly or not. Be especially watchful when downloading, assessing the source of the program and noting the exact contents of your download, itself.

Adjust Browser Settings

Many web browsers offer a range of features that minimize your risk of exposure to computer viruses. However, unless you know how to manage your settings properly, you'll miss out on the benefits. Good practices include setting up the browser to block pop-ups and disabling JavaScript. Regularly clearing the cache also reduces your virus risk.

Pay Attention to Extensions

Many browser extensions save time and add convenience, making them appealing to many. However, many free extensions offer some convenient services while spying on your web browsing. Avoid carelessly downloading extensions, which can contain spyware, adware and viruses.

Open At Your Own Risk

In essence, never open a program you don't completely trust. When you do download software, don't blindly click through the download and installation process. Many free programs are bundled with extensions that can be dangerous. These add-ons compromise your privacy or infect your computer with viruses.

Install Protection

The first step to internet safety is to install good anti-virus software. Only download a reliable program from a reputable website. Your program should be up-to-date and cover against malware and spyware as well as viruses.

  • Understanding Anti-Virus Software: This basic guide explains how anti-virus programs work and how to choose a reliable program.
  • Anti-Virus Software: An article from Texas A&M University explains the importance of regular antivirus program updates.
  • The Colorado government provides information on the detection of rogue anti-virus software, including warning signs and safety measures.

Enable Firewalls

Firewalls can help protect your computer from harmful intrusion in the form of spyware, viruses and other malicious code. In order to make your personal firewalls serve their purpose, you'll need to learn how to adjust their settings on your own computer.

Backup Your Data

In addition to many preventative measures against viruses, you can take precautionary steps to minimize potential damage, should your computer be affected by a virus. By backing up your personal data, you can reduce the odds of losing valuable files in case something goes wrong.

About The Author

Isabella Ava is a Content Manager at GreyCampus. She has over 4 years of experience in the industry and has a keen interest in writing about the ever-changing world of emerging technologies and upcoming trends. She has excellent experience in developing content for professional certification courses like AIML, NLP, PMP- Project Management Professional, Data Science, Cybersecurity, IoT, BI, Python, Ruby, and Six Sigma.
 

Isabella Ava