Vulnerability Of The Netizen: How To Keep Your Computer Safe Through Anti-Virus Techniques

Even years after the Y2K and the “I Love You virus” scare, it is still possible for you to put your computer at risk with a virus infection. Unlike a human virus infection which can be treated, a computer virus can be very organic and can wipe out the entire system, turning your most beloved laptop into a heavy paperweight.

But there are ways to put the vulnerability of your computer at bay. Even if the infection of viruses in computers has become rampant, it can still be prevented and fixed. So, to get you started on your act of prevention and protection, here are some tips on how to reduce the chances of vulnerability towards computer viruses when surfing the Internet.

Download an Anti-Virus Program

Although this might sound cliche, an antivirus program is still an important program to have in a computer. Some people who buy their computers often miss out on antivirus programs, because of their price and the long process that is needed to have it installed. But this is a step that should not really be skipped over.
If you are adamant about downloading an antivirus program that comes with a hefty price, there are a lot of trial antivirus programs online, with some of them being free to help you protect your computer. Just
make sure to update the registry often or to have the auto-update setting configured in your antivirus so that your system can be protected.

Avoid Pornographic Sites

There are a number of other reasons that pornographic sites should be avoided. But one of the strongest reasons that porn sites should be steered clear of is simply because these very websites have viruses and other hidden infections that can put your computer at risk.
But if you are really itching to watch some porn, you can still prevent vulnerability by keeping your antivirus program up to date, and make sure that your browser has a private browsing mode, such as those found in popular browsers like the Apple’s Safari, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome.

Get a Reliable Browser

Just as it is important to have an updated antivirus program in your system, it is also important to have the latest and the most reliable web browser so that you can have another line of protection against computer virus vulnerability.

Web browsers serve as portals for you to access the internet. If you keep that port clear from viruses, then you’re cutting the risk of letting the virus enter your system. A browser can block you or warn you when there is a potential risk with a website that you’re entering, or a program that you’re downloading.
Reliable web browsers need not to be set with a price. Most, if not all of the web browsers that you find today can be downloaded for free. Once you download you antivirus program, with an efficient web browser, you’re just getting closer and closer to having a computer free from any vulnerability.

Prevent Vulnerability through a Secure, Web-based E-mail

E-mails are potential areas that you need to be very careful of. When you send over or receive information through your email, you are very much at risk with letting a virus enter your system.
The right plan of action against this possible predicament is to use a web-based email. Aside from the fact that setting up an email online is easy, it can also be done for free. All you need to do is to fill in the necessary information and you can have an email up and running right there and then.

What’s great about web-based emails today is that they have features that can really protect your computer in the long run. For instance, spam emails which used to fill your inbox and can put your computer at risk can now be removed from your inbox automatically, with the use of new features that can be found in these forms of email. Viruses can also be avoided since most of these emails have a built-in antivirus which can scan outgoing and incoming files. Email protection and security has never been this good.

Save Your Documents in another Format

The documents that are being saved in your program can also harbor possible viruses, and it is only right to protect your system by saving these documents in the least vulnerable format possible.
For instance, documents that are saved in .doc and .docx formats in Microsoft word can contain macro viruses. So to prevent a virus from entering your registry and to subdue your vulnerability, you can save for word files in .rtf or Rich Text Format files. They are still pretty much the same files, only that they’re protected and possibly, safer to publish, edit, and share.
There are a lot of ways to cut the risk of computer virus vulnerability in your system. All you have to do is to follow these tips and be up to date with the latest new about computer viruses and potential risks so that you would know how to take action against these problems that can compromise your computer.