~How To Deal With: Virus Prevention~

Doesn't it stink that we live in a world where even something useful, like the computer, can get corrupted? Indeed, the computer can be a useful tool, but it's not perfect and can get "sick" with a "virus" sometimes. Thus, it is important that you know what Virus Prevention is and you apply what you know to your own computer. The Frequently Asked Questions on this page will serve as a very basic guideline to help you as you cruise the Internet.


FAQs Found On This Page:

What are viruses, worms, trojan horses, and hackers?
What Virus Protection Programs should I use?
How can I avoid accidentally getting my computer infected?
Where can I go to get all my security questions answered?


What are viruses, worms, trojan horses, and hackers?

Viruses, worms, trojan horses, and hackers are all harmful things that can infiltrate your computer. From a pretty harmless tracking cookie to a computer-crashing virus, they can be tricky. It's best to avoid them altogether. You want to make sure you have virus protection and are safe when browsing the Internet. Why? Because even seemingly harmless sites can have links to pages that have trojan horses or worms that can kill your computer the second they're in. They can also take personal information from you, which can help them to sell your private account numbers and such or steal your identity. This is bad, as anyone can see.

What Virus Protection Programs should I use?

Some popular and trustworthy programs are listed below. Yes, they usually will cost a lot of money, but your security online is usually worth it. Visit their site to find which one is best. Often times you can even chat with a representative to see if it's worth your money for what you are getting.

How can I avoid accidentally getting my computer infected?

It's very important you aren't ignorant of what's out there. Don't assume every site is safe. This doesn't call for paranoia, just precautions. With your anti-spyware software and some things to keep in mind, you should be okay. Here's a few tips:

  • Don't download anything until you've thoroughly checked it out first.
  • Always set your virus protection to ON.
  • If you don't have virus protection yet, try staying offline so you don't catch anything.
  • It's advised to not use multiple antivirus programs because they can cancel each other out.
  • Turn ON Windows Automatic Updates to make sure you have the latest protection.
  • Empty temporary Internet files and cookies periodically.
  • Beware of certain file types; they may open a virus right into your lap.
  • Don't open emails & attachments from people you don't know because it could be a scam.
  • Make sure you you use good passwords that no one can guess but you.
  • If a site has a lot of pop-ups, they may also have viruses, so scan after you've left.
  • Avoid clicking of certain ads, as they can link you straight to a hacker site.
  • Don't give out personal information unless the site is secured.
  • Be aware of new scams to avoid getting trapped.
  • Always log out correctly, because hackers can get into your computer when you're not looking.
  • Use a trusted web browser like Mozilla Firefox or Opera.
  • NEVER ignore when your virus protection is trying to tell you something is wrong.
  • Be cautious of downloading "free" programs because they can be look-alikes and really be a trojan.

    Those are just some things to keep in mind. It's always best to know what you are doing. Inform your parents the moment something goes wrong, or if you are the parent, contact your virus protection program immediately for help. Just be sensible when travelling online. Yes, it's a super highway of information. It can be good, but it can also be dangerous. No one in their right mind drives in an unsafe car or crosses a freeway at high traffic times. Why? Because it can cost you your life! Same thing with the computer. If you computer is protected, you are a good driver, and you are cautious of others, you can save your computer's life, your personal information, and your bank account.

    Where can I go to get all my security questions answered?

    My biggest concern for you is to be safe. Part of being safe is not getting taken off-guard. Please check out this page (http://security.yahoo.com/all_topics.html), provided by Yahoo! It'll help answer some really important questions and tell you more information than I have room to cover here! It was very helpful when answering questions. I encourage parents and children to go over these pages together.

    Well, I hope this was somewhat helpful. I'm not the most expertise person on computers, but I'm very cautious and it's served me well. My computer hasn't died on me yet! Contact your Online Security Provider or Internet Provider if you want to hear more. They'll tell you everything to look out for. Have a great day!









    Pokémon is © to Nintendo and is not affiliated with us in any way. All content and images on this site © to Stareon's Hideout, unless otherwise stated.