Computer malware can attack a personal computer or a network of computers within your business in many ways. Spyware, viruses and malicious programs are very common and can hinder our work by appearing on USB sticks, in emails or as advertising spam.
How computer viruses get into your computer
Here are some of the most common ways to get infected with computer viruses and some solutions to prevent them correctly:
- Accepting prompts presented in advertisements or pop-ups that indicate that your computer is infected or needs a unique antivirus. These types of prompts usually appear when installing or updating a third program, and it is suggested that if you install something from the Internet, it should be in a customized manner to ensure that no viruses or malware are added during the process.
- Make sure you download the software you need for yourself or your business from a trusted source and run it through the appropriate antivirus scans and with the appropriate spyware. Read all the instructions about the program you are installing and if necessary, you can check if a website is trustworthy by using tools such as WOT.
- Opening email attachments, as a general rule, should not occur with those you do not expect to receive. Computers can become infected when users open email attachments containing malicious code. Even if the message is from a co-worker, friend or family member, be careful before opening a link or downloading an attachment you don’t expect.
- Any hard drive or USB flash drive connected to your personal or business computer can contain different types of viruses. It is a common tactic for hackers to gain access to a network through a series of codes present on a flash drive, and they are able to infect the entire system with a virus or Trojan.
- By visiting unknown links we run the risk of ending up on a website that could access your computer through malicious files or obtain all kinds of information about our system. Open with care those chats, emails or SMS that look suspicious, be careful even with URLs that look legitimate and check all the information they refer to.
- Running the latest updates should also be done in a reasonable manner, treating with caution especially those associated with Microsoft Windows or security-oriented updates. Always keep your operating system, programs and browser plug-ins up to date as they may also be vulnerable. Run tools to check installed add-ons and their versions.
- Pirated software contained in applications such as BitTorrent for the illegal exchange of music, movies or copyrighted software can be another risk to be aware of. Sometimes these files and programs contain viruses, spyware, Trojans or malicious software.
Automatic backups, restores and antivirus installation
Because data forms the heart of a company, it is crucial to protect it. Implementing a data backup and recovery plan is vital, as backups of our files protect us against accidental data loss or corruption.
We are exposed to both hardware failures and natural disasters, and as administrators we must ensure that backups are performed from time to time, which can be done automatically or manually, with automation being an increasingly used resource. Store your backups in a secure location for full job security guarantees and set a plan that takes into account the necessary frequency with which to make backups an automated task.
The importance of installing an antivirus in your company.
Once you have established this schedule specifying the copies to be made, don’t forget the importance of having antivirus protection against spyware or malware and to help prevent future computer virus infections, one of the most common causes of data loss.
Installing a good antivirus is a fundamental measure both at home and at work, a solution to protect devices and information of your business in all kinds of circumstances in which you could be affected by the problems of having a virus.