Some universal tips to protect yourself against computer viruses
- Use a standard user account
- Use the highest User Account Control (UAC) settings
- 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 why most computer viruses these days, especially once they happen 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 easily hide in system files. So if you have an antivirus program, it will be much easier to remove any viruses that you have.
So what you basically do is have an admin account that you create separately. And do it on a standard account. If you ever have to do anything 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 will especially protect you even against computer viruses.
User Account Control (UAC) settings
You must have the highest setting for User Account Control. It’s a bit more annoying. But it’s definitely useful for preventing computer viruses from doing things and installing themselves when you don’t know it. So if you’re running a PDF or something. And then all of a sudden you get a user control popup 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 your 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, it will prevent you from going to a full. And now you don’t have to worry about that.
So I definitely think it’s good to have an antivirus. Most people say, “Oh… it’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 kind 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 are going to 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 install”. 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 in 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 sort of thing. And it’s important in general to keep your windows up to date.
Windows EMET (Mitigation Experience Enhancement 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 that you download the program, it will run and monitor all the programs you set, there is a default list. I think that comes with a lot like Acrobat, Microsoft Word and that sort of thing.
You should read:
- How to securely erase data from hard drive
- How to increase security online
- Hardware Encryption Units
- How to sign 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 about 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.