| The first steps to protecting your
computer are to ensure your operating
system (OS) is up-to-date. This is essential if you
are running a Microsoft Windows OS. Secondly, you should have anti-virus
software installed on your system and ensure you download
updates frequently to ensure your software has the latest fixes
for new viruses, worms, and Trojan Horses. Additionally you want
to make sure your anti-virus program has the ability to scan
e-mail and files as they are downloaded from the Internet. This
will help prevent malicious programs from even reaching your
computer. If this isn't enough protection, then you may want to
consider installing a firewall
as well.
A firewall is a system which
prevents unauthorized use and access to your computer. A
firewall can be either hardware or software. Hardware firewalls
provide a strong degree of protection from most forms of attack
coming from the outside world and can be purchased as a
stand-alone product or in broadband
routers.
Unfortunately, when battling viruses, worms and Trojans, a
hardware firewall may be less effective than a software
firewall, as it could possibly ignore embedded worms in out
going e-mails and see this as regular network traffic. For
individual home users, the most popular firewall choice is a
software firewall. A good software firewall will protect
your computer from outside attempts to control or gain access
your computer, and usually provides additional protection
against the most common Trojan
programs or e-mail worms. The
downside to software firewalls is that they will only protect
the computer they are installed on, not a network.
It is important to remember that
on its own a firewall is not going to rid you of your
computer virus problems, but when used in conjunction with
regular operating system updates and a good anti-virus scanning
software, it will add some extra security and protection for
your computer or network.
Vangie 'Aurora' Beal
Writer, www.Webopedia.com
complete article at :http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Internet/2004/virus.asp
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