How to Avoid Computer Virus From Affecting Your Device

Computer viruses are frustrating, they slow down computer processes, stop computer functions, delete valuable data, and are just not needed!

In this article, I will explain how you can better your chances of avoiding computer viruses.

Virus Through Emails

Viruses can enter into your computer through emails, they can only do so however if you grant them access. Access is given by clicking on an email containing a virus or by opening an attached file. You must be careful to avoid these emails as they can sometimes look extremely tempting to open. Take for example the email shown in the image below, this email looks tempting to open because it is telling me I can get easy money, it also looks like it came from the HMRC website so it seems legitimate. However, when I hover my mouse over the sender name, I find that the actual email address of the sender appears and it is quite clear that it is not from HMRC.

Stay well clear of these emails as they will most likely contain harmful viruses. You will usually find a file attached or a link asking for you to click on it to receive some sort of benefit, DO NOT click on the link or download the attached files. Doing so is giving the virus access to your machine.

If you are not expecting an email that appears to be beneficial to you, approach it with caution.

Virus Through Downloads

Downloading can also put a virus onto your computer, there are websites out there that you sometimes require to download your favorite games or applications, these websites contain buttons that look like the actual download button but in fact, are not. The fake download buttons will in some cases download a virus, be careful to not click on these, you will need a keen eye to spot this.

Another way viruses can enter your computer is when installing certain games and applications. On install you will in some cases find, the install process will offer other downloads which you are not after. A check box should be available to uncheck if you do not want the application, however, most of us miss this check box and accidentally install the extra application/game and through this we allow viruses to enter our computers. To avoid this make sure you check each and every page of the install process and uncheck the option to opt-out from installing the extra application/game.

Virus Through Websites

Viruses can also come through websites, you access a website, click on a link or media player, and bang, a virus has landed on your computer. To avoid this you need to, first of all, ensure to stay away from websites that you do not need to access. The second piece of advice I can give is to install online antivirus software, this will be able to detect malicious data and prevent it from accessing and ruining your computer. Some online antivirus software can also mark websites that are potentially harmful on search engines, you can use this to avoid getting a virus too.

Browsers will sometimes bring up a warning message before accessing harmful sites as well, they will tell you the website is harmful and give you the option to enter the website or leave it. I would advise you not to take any risks, leaving the website will save you the trouble of removing a virus.

Virus Through Portable Media

If for any reason someone needs to plug in their USB, phone, or external hard drive into your computer, first ask them if they are sure there is nothing potentially dangerous in it. If you decide to allow people to plug their portable media into your computer, make sure you have some sort of antivirus software installed.

If after plugging in portable media and accessing files in it, you find your computer has become slow and started to behave strangely, take the USB out immediately and switch off the machine. If you want you can switch it back on and attempt to run a scan using antivirus software and repair the computer yourself, if you are unable to do this or repair the machine, take the computer to a repair shop to remove the virus.