{"id":41215,"date":"2021-05-07T15:58:29","date_gmt":"2021-05-07T19:58:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.andysowards.com\/blog\/?p=41215"},"modified":"2021-05-07T15:58:31","modified_gmt":"2021-05-07T19:58:31","slug":"how-to-ensure-you-never-get-another-computer-virus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.andysowards.com\/blog\/2021\/how-to-ensure-you-never-get-another-computer-virus\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Ensure You Never Get Another Computer Virus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You\u2019d be hard-pressed to find someone who relishes dealing with computer viruses. In the best-case scenario, they\u2019re annoying and inconvenient. In the worst-case scenario, they can compromise your personal information and slow your computer to a crawl. Needless to say, no one who\u2019s dealt with a virus in the past wants to be bothered by one again. Instead of leaving this up to chance, you\u2019d do well to take preventative measures against future infections. By bolstering your digital defenses, you can turn your computer into a virus-free zone \u2013 and keep it that way for years to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use Dedicated Antivirus Software <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Is Microsoft Defender the Best Antivirus for Your PC in 2021?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Dedicated antivirus software<\/a> is an absolute must for anyone who\u2019s serious about virus prevention. Dependable antivirus software will work hand in hand with your operating system to provide around-the-clock protection from viruses, malware and various other cyberthreats. Of course, not all antivirus software will provide you with an equal level of protection. To ensure that you don\u2019t wind up with a lemon, take care to be discerning when shopping around for the right antivirus program. As a general rule, you should limit your options to programs that are created by experienced, highly-rated developers, offer sweeping protection against a growing array of viruses and provide users with frequent updates in response to emerging threats.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Install Updates in a Timely Manner <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Still using Windows 7? These security tips will protect your laptop now that support is dead<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As previously stated, antivirus software is updated on a fairly consistent basis. With the number of active cyberthreats constantly on the rise, it\u2019s necessary for developers to counter the efforts of cybercriminals at every turn. However, this isn\u2019t only true in the case of antivirus programs \u2013 your apps and operating system are likely to receive similar updates. Unfortunately, upon being asked to install system or app updates, many of us opt to place this on the backburner. Sometimes, this is a result of certain programs becoming difficult to use when update installations are underway. In other instances, important updates are put off out of pure laziness. Regardless of your reasons for letting updates pile up, it\u2019s strongly recommended that you get out of this habit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As is the case with antivirus programs, system and app updates are often created to combat the machinations of cybercriminals and strengthen your computer\u2019s defenses. The longer these updates remain uninstalled, the more vulnerable your computer becomes to assorted cyberthreats<\/a>. To nip this problem in the bud once and for all, simply set your operating system and your various apps to automatically install updates as they become available.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scan Your System <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
How to Scan with Microsoft Defender Antivirus on Windows 10<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Some cyberthreats lay low and don\u2019t make their effects fully known until it\u2019s too late. Fortunately, you can deal with seemingly minor viruses before they have a chance to fully manifest themselves with the aid of system-wide threat scans. Per the name, these scans serve to identify any viruses or other potential threats that happen to be lurking on your computer. They can be performed through your operating system or antivirus software and barely eat up any memory. This ensures that they can be carried out in the background without disturbing any other tasks you\u2019re attending to. For maximum protection, run at least one full-system scan every 24 hours. If you don\u2019t feel like manually setting each scan into motion, simply set your O.S. or antivirus software to automatically carry them out at set times.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Browse Cautiously  <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Safe browsing habits can be a tremendous boon to your cybersecurity efforts. For one thing, you\u2019ll need to avoid sites that lack a secure socket layer (SSL) certificate, which can be identified by an \u201cS\u201d that follows the \u201cHTTPS\u201d in a site\u2019s web address. You should steer clear of sites that don\u2019t have trust seals, which can be identified by a padlock icon found to the left of the web address. Both of these features are particularly important for online stores and other ecommerce websites<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For as long as home computers have been commonplace, viruses have proven to be a consistent source of stress. Whether you\u2019re dealing with a minor infection or significant cyberthreat, fixing the problem is liable to require a fair amount of time, money and hassle. As such, you\u2019d be wise to make virus avoidance a priority. Even if you\u2019ve been lucky enough to avoid virus attacks in the past, a single wrong move is all it takes to compromise your cybersecurity and potentially turn your entire world upside down. In the interest of preventing future virus attacks, heed the pointers discussed above.  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

You\u2019d be hard-pressed to find someone who relishes dealing with computer viruses. In the best-case scenario, they\u2019re annoying and inconvenient. In the worst-case scenario, they can compromise your personal information<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":41219,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[199,7232,1],"tags":[6391,14127,5895,11089,181,20,118,11145,2307,227,2896,5890,220],"yoast_head":"\nHow to Ensure You Never Get Another Computer Virus<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"You\u2019d be hard-pressed to find someone who relishes dealing with computer viruses. 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