This week the team at Internet Explorer HQ have been discussing the computer virus malware. We’ve given a description of the virus and highlighted some of the various examples of it. In our final post of the week we’d like to offer some top tips on avoiding malware.
1. Install Internet Explorer 8! An obvious one but since its launch in March 2009 IE8 has stopped over 560 million attempts to download malware
2. Make sure Internet Explorer’s SmartScreen Filter is turned-on
3. Keep your computer’s software up-to-date. Turn on automatic updating with Microsoft Update. Your operating system and your software programs must be updated regularly.
4. Always use antivirus and antispyware software from trusted sources and keep the software up-to-date. If you use Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Windows XP, you can download Microsoft Security Essentials, which offers award-winning, free, anti-virus protection for your home PC .
5. If you use Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Windows Server 2008, make sure User Account Control (UAC) is active so that it always notifies you of changes to your computer. Carefully review each message that you receive from UAC before you allow changes to your computer.
6. Don’t click links on suspicious websites or in email messages. Type addresses directly into your browser or use bookmarks. Find out more about how to identify suspicious links here
7. Don’t trust sender information in IMs, email messages, or messages on social networking websites. More tips on safety and social networking here
8. Be careful what you download from the Internet. Files that end in extensions .EXE or .SCR often hide malware. However, even files with familiar extensions such as .PDF can be dangerous.
9. Before you install something, consider the risks and benefits of installing it, and be aware of the fine print. For example, make sure the license agreement does not conceal a warning that you are about to install software with unwanted behaviour.
10. Only download programs and updates from reputable sources. If you use Windows or Microsoft Office, always go to Microsoft Update. For other software, always use the legitimate websites of the company or person who produces the software.
Go to http://www.microsoft.com/protect/ to get more tips on how to stay safe online
