How to avoid viruses, worm and spyware

The internet is an integral part of our lives, and many of us use it constantly throughout the day.But that connectedness has increased the risk of infection by viruses and malware, leading to potential data loss and identity theft. Every internet user should be versed in how to prevent virus infection and what to look for. Think of it as a driver’s manual for the internet superhighway. Armed with the knowledge to avoid getting and spreading virus infections, you’ll not only make the internet safer for yourself, but for everyone else you connect with.

• 1 of 4: Browsing Safely. Avoid clicking on everything. There are thousands of banner ads and popups on the internet that are designed to get your attention and make you click.
  Beware of misleading popups. Some of the most nefarious popups on the internet are designed to mimic the look of legitimate anti-virus software. These popups attempt to trick the user into thinking their antivirus software has found an infection. When you click the popup, however, the adware is actually installed.
• 2 of 4: Handling Downloaded Files
  Be selective with your downloads. There are programs available for nearly every task you can think of, but ask yourself if you really need the program that you are about to download.
  Download from trusted locations only. If you are downloading a program or other piece of software, it is always advisable to try to download it from the developer’s site as opposed to a download service.
  Look at the extension. Mischievous files often have fake extensions designed to trick you, such as “.txt.vb” or “.jpg.exe”.
  Don’t open anything you don’t trust completely. A virus or worm can do nothing unless you actually run the program that it is attached to.
• 3 of 4: Dealing with Emails
  Don’t download attachments from a source you don’t know.
  Disable image previews. Many email applications can automatically load images for convenience, but this can leave you more vulnerable, as images can contain malicious code.
• 4 of 4: Protecting Yourself
  Install an antivirus program like Bkav Pro Internet Security 2015, Bkav Mobile Security 2015. An antivirus program will actively protect your computer from virus infections by scanning active programs and performing scheduled full-system scans.