9 Steps to Protect your MS Windows System from Viruses

Nowadays as the Internet and other networks are
greatly developed computer viruses are
distributed rapidly and intensively. Everyday
several new viruses capable to damage
considerably your computer system arise. Anti-
virus specialists work hardly to make updates
their software against new viruses as soon as
possible. The viruses can get inside computer in
different ways. That is why there is no simple
method to protect system. Only series of
measures can give you reliable protection from
the infection. Below are 9 steps to protect MS
Windows based PC system from viruses.
1. Make regular backups. It should be said that
there is no absolutely safe way of protection.
Virus creators regularly find holes in new
computer products to use them for infection of
computer systems. Some dangerous viruses can
considerably damage data files or even erase
entire file system. Make regular backups of your
data files to separate file storage device. It can be
separate hard drive, flash card, compact disc or
another file storage device which you choose. To
ease the procedure you can use some automatic
backup software. And be ready if the system will
die because of virus infection.
2. Be ready to reinstall your system if it dies
because of viruses. Get distributives of your
operation system and distributives of software
which you use and keep them together, for
instance, on a set of CDs not far away from you.
In this case if virus infection will cause
unrecoverable system failure you can rapidly
reinstall your working medium.
3. Protect your network connection with Firewall.
Firewall is a software which blocks suspicious
potentially dangerous connections to preventing
viruses from network to penetrate into your
system. Windows XP system has quit simple but
reliable built-in firewall. You can enable it as
follows. 1) in Control Panel, double-click
Networking and Internet Connections, and then
click Network Connections. 2) Right-click the
connection on which you would like to enable
firewall, and then click Properties. 3) On the
Advanced tab, check the option to Protect my
If you need more flexible control of connections
with network you
can get and install more advanced firewall
software like Norton Personal Firewall or Outpost
Firewall. If you use this software you have ability
to permit or to block particular connections and
to monitor network activity.
4. Use antivirus software. Install antivirus
software which will scan your system searching
and erasing viruses on a regular basis. Leaders in
antivirus software products for Windows
systems are Norton Antivirus, McAfee, Kaspersky
Anti-Virus and PC-cilin.
5. Regularly update operating system. Windows
XP has built-in automatic update service. It
regularly contacts Microsoft server to find
updates and notifies you if updates are ready to
be installed. Updates are important because
hackers regularly find holes in operating system
which are often used by virus creators.
6. Don't install and don't run suspicious software.
Check new programs which you are going to
install with anti-virus software. Don't download
software from suspicious websites. To download
software always seek website of software creator
or official distributor. Do not open applications
received by email from unknown persons.
7. Limit access to your computer. Protect enter to
system with password.
8. If you use Internet Explorer, consider moving
to another browser. As IE is the most distributed
browser today virus creators actively use defects
in its security system to infect computers.
Infection may arise if you will visit webpage
which contains invisible harmful code. You are
more safe if you use less known browser only
because virus creators do not pay much attention
to it. Major IE competitors Firefox and Opera
browsers provide now the same comfortable
interface and range of services for working on the
Web.
9. Use spam protection. Viruses are often
distributed via email. Switch on spam filters in
your email box to block spam receiving. If you
need assistance with using of the filters you can
ask your email service provider.