How to Prevent a Computer Virus and Protect Your Email ?

Viruses and other malicious PC threats can easily infect our computer systems. Basing on my personal experience and study from the Internet, I would like to share some tips about how to prevent computer virus and safeguard your email.

How to Protect your Computer from Viruses?

Never open the attachment from the unknown email or unexpected email, even if the attachment seems to be a.jpg image file. This is because Windows allow users add multiple suffixes on the file name, while many email applications usually display the first suffix only. For example, if you see an attachment named wow.jpg, its full name actually is wow.jpg.vbs. Therefore, to open this attachment will result in the running of a malicious VBScript virus.

Before you insert a floppy disk, CD-ROMs and other removable media, make sure they have been scanned for viruses. And, make sure your computer can automatically check for viruses when the removable media inserts or emails and network file are received.

Guard against fraudulent virus. If you receive an email from your friend which claims that there is a most lethal new virus and requests you to forward this warning email to all your friends. This may be a fraudulent virus actually. You are suggested to turn to the antivirus software vendors, such as Symantec's website, to confirm the claim.

Use other forms of documents, such as.rtf (Rich Text Format) and.pdf (Portable Document Format). Common macro viruses spread through Microsoft Office programs. Therefore, the less use of these files types will lower the risk of being infected by viruses. Try to use Rich Text to save your files. This does not mean that simply use.rtf suffix in the file name, but that in Microsoft Word use "Save as" command, and in the dialog box select Rich Text format to save the file. Although Rich Text Format may contain embedded objects, it itself does not support Visual Basic Macros or Jscript. The pdf file is not only a kind of format available in many platforms, but also more secure.

Use the client-based firewall or filtration solution. If you are using the Internet, particularly the broadband, and you are always online, then it is very necessary to use a personal firewall to protect your privacy and to prevent the unexpected visitors to access your system. If your system does not have an additional effective protection, your home address, credit card number and other personal information could be stolen.

If there are share files set with full access by users in the local area network, viruses may very easily come in. This also brings the frequent access of the infected computer to the share files, and results in network congestion.

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