Preventing virus infections
Even proven and trusted preventative actions cannot ensure 100% protection against computer viruses and Trojans, but you can considerably minimize the risk of being affected by a virus attack and thus reduce the losses from a possible infection if you develop and follow certain rules.Similar to health care, one of the main methods of fighting viruses is the prevention of infection. For computers, prevention of a virus infection includes a few rules that must be followed to reduce the risk of infection and data loss.Listed below are the main security rules that you should follow to prevent virus attacks.Rule 1: keep your computer protected with anti-virus programs and Internet security software. To do this:
- Install Kaspersky Anti-Virus Personal.
- Update your anti-virus database on a daily basis. During periods of virus outbreaks you should retrieve updates several times each day because during such periods the anti-virus database on Kaspersky Lab's update servers is updated constantly.
- Apply the real-time protection settings recommended by Kaspersky Lab. Real-time protection is enabled immediately after system startup and prevents the penetration of viruses into your computer.
- Apply the on-demand scan settings recommended by Kaspersky Lab and schedule the scan to be run at least once a week.
- We also recommend that you install Kaspersky Anti-Hacker for comprehensive computer protection while you are surfing the Internet.
Rule 2: be careful when copying any new data to your computer:
- Always scan all removable drives (floppy disks, CD-ROM drives, flash cards, etc.) for viruses before using them.
- Be careful with email messages. Never open an email attachment, even if it was sent to you by a person your know, unless you are expecting it. In particular, do not trust emails that claim to be sent by anti-virus companies.
- Be careful with any data downloaded from the Internet. If you are prompted to download a program, always check that it comes with a security certificate.
- If you download an executable file from the Internet or from a LAN, scan it with Kaspersky Anti-Virus.
- Be selective about the websites you visit. Some websites contain dangerous scripts or Internet worms.
Rule 3: Read carefully all information supplied by Kaspersky Lab.In most cases, Kaspersky Lab warns users about new virus outbreaks long before they reach their peak. The risk of getting infected is still low at this time and if you download the up-to-date anti-virus database, you will be able to protect your computer.
Rule 4: Be suspicious about hoax virus warnings - email messages that claim to be warnings of virus threats.Rule 5: Regularly update your operating system using the Windows Update utility.Rule 6: Always buy licensed copies of your software from authorized dealers.Rule 7: Limit the number of people who have access to your computer.Rule 8: Minimize potential losses from a possible infection:
- Backup your data on a regular basis, so that in the event of data loss, your system may be fairly quickly restored using backup copies. Your distribution disks, floppy disks and other media with software installation and other important data should be kept in a safe place.
- Always create a bootable rescue disk from which you can boot using a "clean" operating system.
See also:
When do I need to perform an anti-virus scan?
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