The best ways to protect yourself against computer viruses

Some universal tips to protect yourself against computer viruses

• Use a standard user account

• Use the highest User Account Control (UAC) setting

• Use an Antivirus with Web Security

• Enable Java auto update

• Keep your Windows up to date

• Use a Windows EMET (Mitigation Experience Improvement Toolkit)

Use a standard user account

Now the first thing is to make sure that your user account that you use every day is a standard account, not an administrator account. The reason most computer viruses these days, especially once they get by without user interaction. It really requires you to be an administrator for it to work properly.

So if you’re just a standard user and don’t have admin privileges, which isn’t a big deal. So it means that the virus will not be able to install itself. Or if so, it means that it will not be able to hide easily in system files. So if you have an antivirus program, it will be much easier to remove any viruses you have.

So what you basically do is have an administrator account that you create separately. And do it in a standard account. If you ever have to do something that requires administrator privileges, it will simply ask you to enter the password. So this is definitely something I recommend doing. And a lot of people might say, “That’s all too painful. I don’t need it.” But it really is beneficial. It is because this is going to protect you especially even against computer viruses.

User Account Control (UAC) Settings

You must have the highest User Account Control setting. It’s a bit more annoying. But it’s definitely useful to prevent computer viruses from doing things and installing themselves when you don’t know about it. So if you are running a PDF or something. And then all of a sudden I get a popup from the user control saying that something is trying to modify a system file. And you can deny that.

Whereas if you don’t have it configured to do that then it could try to install itself. And you won’t even know. So it’s definitely something you should do a little more annoying. But definitely something you should do if you want to be safe on your computer.

Antivirus with Web Security

This one might become obvious, but an antivirus specifically with web protection. And the reason for this again is to block access to computer viruses. You didn’t know you were there. First of all, like ESET NOD32, that’s what I like when you go to a website that may have a virus. If you click on it, you will be prevented from going to a full. And now you don’t have to worry about it.

So I definitely think it’s good to have an antivirus. Most people say, “Oh… that’s common sense.” Well, sometimes you can’t afford it. You go and do a Google search for something. And you go to a website that has been compromised. You didn’t know that. Just click launch Google. You want to have some sort of antivirus for those situations. Where you don’t even know you’re engaging in some risky behavior.

Java security settings

This is a very common piece of software. That you will see many computers. But many times new exploits for invulnerability emerge. So you want to make sure it’s really up to date. What I would do is make sure you have daily updated checks enabled and also enable “notify me before installing”. So it downloads automatically and notifies you before installing, not just before downloading.

That way, when the updates are ready, you can click on them and confirm the installation. It won’t update automatically that I know of. Now the real reason you want to do daily update checks is because of zero-day vulnerabilities.

Keep your Windows up to date

I think it’s pretty obvious, but I really need to include that thing that enables automatic updates for Windows. I think Windows 10, you have to enable it. But just make sure you enable security updates, don’t bid too long. Because there are important updates to review there. It will block vulnerabilities exploits that kind of thing. And it’s important in general to keep windows up to date.

Windows EMET (Mitigation Experience Improvement Toolkit)

Finally, I want to talk about a really cool program called Windows EMET (Enhance Mitigation Experience Toolkit). Which is actually developed by Microsoft. Basically what this does is protect against exploits. Now what happens is you download the program, it will run and monitor all the programs you set up, there is a default list. I think that comes with a lot like Acrobat, Microsoft Word and that kind of thing.

You should read:

• How to securely erase data from hard drive

• How to increase online security

• Hardware Encryption Units

• Way to log in to Google without passwords

• Free Encryption Software for 2016

• Why should you get a VPN?

• 5 tips to stay safe on Facebook

• Why should you encrypt your phone?

And then he has all these different feats and he knows them. If that program tries to run a file that has one of these exploits, it will block it. So many times you will hear people say: “don’t open PDF files from unknown emails”. Because you don’t think of it as a virus, but it can have exploits. That is not a real virus program. But they take advantage of regular legitimate software to install themselves as viruses. It’s not like an exe or anything. So I definitely recommend this program.