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Install reliable anti-virus software. Anti-virus software scans files regularly for unusual changes in file size, programs that match the software's database of known viruses, suspicious email attachments, and other warning signs. It's the most important step you can take towards keeping your computer clean of viruses.
Update your anti-virus software regularly. New viruses, worms, and Trojan horses are born daily, and variations of them can slip by software that is not current. Once you've installed the antivirus software, you will need to obtain regular updates from the manufacture that tells the antivirus software about new viruses and how to detect them. Most antivirus programs come with a year's worth of updates, and you can usually set the software to either automatically download the updates, or display a reminder for you to do so.
Get immediate protection. Configure your anti-virus software to boot automatically on start-up and run at all times. This will provide you back-up protection in case you forget to scan an attachment, or decide not to. And in case you forget to boot up your anti-virus software, configuring it to start by itself will ensure you get immediate protection anyway.
Don't automatically open attachments. Never have your e-mail program set to automatically run attached files. This is especially true for browsers and/or e-mail programs which automatically execute Microsoft Word after opening an e-mail. Turn off the option to launch or execute any programs after receiving e-mail. This will ensure that you can examine and scan attachments before they run.
Scan all incoming email attachments. Do not open any files attached to an email if the subject line is questionable or unexpected or the source (address) is unknown, suspicious or untrustworthy. Do not open any files attached unless you know what it is even if you recognize and trust the sender if they pass you a virus, they won't know they did. Never run an executable file without first running it through an updated anti-virus utility.
Delete chain emails and junk email. Do not forward or reply to any to them. These types of email are considered spam, which is unsolicited, intrusive mail that clogs up the network. Some viruses can replicate themselves and spread through email.
Be careful when downloading files from the Internet. Ensure that the source is a legitimate and reputable one. Do not download any files from strangers. If you're uncertain, don't download the file at all or save all downloads to one folder and test them with your own anti-virus software.
Always scan new files for viruses before you use them.
Back up your files on a regular basis. If a virus destroys your files, at least you can replace them with your back-up copy. You should store your backup copy in a separate location from your work files, one that is preferably not on your computer.
If your computer is on a network, make sure you have security steps in place to prevent unauthorized users putting files on your computer. Networks are ideal virus transmitters since they are accessed by many computers and there usually is a great deal of interaction between these computers.
Take care using floppy disks. The more computers a floppy has been used on, the better the chance of a virus infecting it. Always run floppies through an anti-virus program before using them and be extremely cautious when booting your computer from a floppy disk (it's adviseable not to do so).
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