Question

Besides keeping your antivirus software up to date, what are some other steps you can take to either prevent virus infection or minimize the effects if you do get infected?

Answer 1

1. Perform regular scans: The anti-viruses are scheduled to perform a regular scan, generally once a week. Make sure that the machine is open at the specified time and the scan is not skipped.

2. Keep OS up to date: Operating system developers issue patches on a regular basis which fix potential security risks, thus making system secure.

3. Disable autorun: Connecting any network drives, external hard disks, or pen-drives to a system can result in viruses/malwares to automatically install themselves in the machine thorugh connected media.  

4. Avoid clicking unnecessarily: Many websites have hidden links which won't show up just by hovering over them. They pop when clicked on the screen.

5. Make your network secure by using a WPA2 encryption. Not broadcasting your network will also help in the same.

6. On a similar note, avoid using open Wi-Fi's. They are not safe.

7. Do not open links/attachments in emails if it not from a trusted source. The attachment/link may be infected.

8. Similary disable image previews in your webmail.

9. Use DNS protection: In case of potential poisoned DNS attack where a compromised DNS server directs you to an unauthorized Web server. OpenDNS offers free DNS services to protect users against such risks. The same can also be done using a switch and changing the way the computer processes a DNS request.

10. Using a hardware based firewall: The software based firewalls often create problems while using some external resources, such as printers. The software based firewalls generally give in case the system is an all-Internet connected one.