How To Keep Your Computer Safe

Step 2: Run Antivirus (and keep it up-to-date)

By now most people are aware of viruses, but not everyone knows how to prevent their computers from being infected. There are two ways to keep viruses out of your computer: 1. Use antivirus software, and 2. Be a smart email and Internet user.

A computer virus is a malicious program that can cause data loss or damage to your software; it can also spread from your computer to infect other computers. Antivirus software will scan your computer for existing viruses and remove them. It will also scan all incoming email for viruses and delete the virus before it can infect your computer. Most antivirus program will also block some spyware.

How to do it:

1. If you have a new computer, it may have come with an anti-virus program already installed. If not, you need to purchase anti-virus software. It is better to purchase antivirus software instead of downloading free software, because you get better service. If you are concerned about the cost, remember this: It is much less expensive to buy antivirus software and purchase the upgrades when they are released than to have to pay a technician to fix your computer once it has been infected with a virus.
   1. The two most-often recommended antivirus programs are Symantec’s Norton AntiVirus (www.symantec.com) and McAfee VirusScan (www.mcafee.com).
   2. Other recommended programs are: AVG Anti-Virus (www.grisoft.com), F-Secure Anti-Virus (www.f-secure.com), Kaspersky Anti-Virus Personal (www.kaspersky.com), and Trend Micro’s PC-cillin Internet Security (www.trendmicro.com).
       
2. It is extremely important that you keep your anti-virus software up-to-date. Once you have installed the software, you should run the update program immediately. Make sure that you check for updates, or set up the software so it automatically checks for updates, at least once a week. Most commercial antivirus software includes a feature allowing you to download updates automatically from the Internet. And be sure to renew your antivirus subscription each year.
    
3. Once the software is installed and has been updated, go ahead and run a virus scan of your system. You can continue working on your computer while the program runs. Once the scan finishes, the program will alert you if you have any viruses or other problems present and should recommend a course of action. Be sure to run your anti-virus at least once a month -- more frequently if you use the Internet every day.
    
4. If you haven’t been running antivirus and you think your computer may already be infected, you can run a free virus scan through Symantec’s or McAfee’s websites. At Symantec’s site (http://securityresponse.symantec.com/), scroll down to the Virus Definitions section and click on Online Virus and Security Check.
   
   
   The next screen...
   
   Will take you to this page:
   
   Select Virus Detection. You may receive one or more security warnings as the virus scan software downloads. Click Yes or OK to continue.
   
   At McAfee (http://us.mcafee.com/), scroll down to the Free Tools section and select Scan Now next to Free Scan.
   
   
   You'll have to agree to the End User License Agreement before you can continue.
   
   
   You may receive one or more security warnings as the virus scan software downloads. Click Yes or OK to continue.

Go to the next step.

Last Updated: 6 January 2005