Malware is the term used to describe all unwanted malicious software and files, such as aspimgr.exe, ipssvc.exe, and d.exe that may infiltrate your computer and cause various problems. The two main categories of malware are virus and spyware. Trojan horses, worms and back doors are variants of viruses. Spyware and adware programs belong to the second category. Viruses usually spread through open network shares, infected external media, infected emails attachments, and dubious web sites. While spyware and adware usually come packaged with other programs and stealthily install on your PC without your knowledge or consent. Image of virus/malware entry from ines at SXC.
There are some great antivirus and antispyware tools available today that you can use to remove malware programs from your computer. However, the real trick is to prevent these infections from occurring in the first place.
The following are a few simple tips that will help you achieve this goal to a large extent.
Tip # 1: Your first step to prevent unauthorized access to your PC is to implement a firewall. A good firewall helps you combat both viruses and hackers. Most home computer users get enough security by enabling the Windows Firewall. However, if you have more sensitive data stored on your PC, it is recommended that you use a more robust third-party firewall to provide you with better protection.
Tip # 2: You must not use file sharing applications such as Limewire. If you have any file sharing program on your PC, then there is a 99.9% chance that your PC will get infected with a malware. This is because there is no way in which you can determine the integrity and health of the content from the source you are downloading.
Tip # 3: Stop before opening any email attachments, unless you are sure about what it contains—even if it is from a known email address. Many virus programs, send infected attachments to email IDs in the Address Book of the infected computer. This is the reason why, even if your email is from a known source, it might contain infected email attachments. You may use a good anti spam software to scan both outgoing and incoming emails to your computer.
Tip # 4: Many times when you access a Web page, a pop-up display may appear carrying some type of advertisement. You must never click inside this pop-up box to close—not even the ‘close’ and ‘cancel’ buttons if they are within the box. Doing this may have adverse affects on your PC. To close this pop-up box safely, you must click the ‘X’ button given in the top-right corner of the dialog box.
Tip # 5: While working on your PC, you may receive a message informing you that your PC is infected with a malware, and that you must download a particular software and run a scan to remove the virus. You must never download this recommended software because they are most commonly rogue software that may cause further harm to your PC.
Tip # 6: You must avoid downloading free media and software because they are usually bundled with unwanted malware programs. Also, if you have to download something, then do so from a trusted website.
Tip # 7: Lastly, make sure to use a good registry cleaner tool to scan and clean your registry on a regular basis. This will help you remove any malware entries hiding deep within the registry tree and ensure complete virus removal from your system.
