Viruses are malicious pieces of code written by disgruntled programmers, who then use the Internet to slip it into your computer. Most of the viruses are meant to damage computer systems. They infect files, corrupt data and may even cause a crash of networks. It is therefore important to keep your PC free from viruses.

There are a few common ways in which viruses can enter your system. The most basic route is through your e-mail inbox. Many a times, you get unidentified mails, which may claim to contain material that is of interest to you. However, always remember that opening an unexpected mail is going to get you a virus or worm almost every time.

Even if you receive an unexpected mail from a known source, and the mail requires you to open an attachment, avoid doing so. Sometimes viruses or hidden code such as Trojan horses can hide and slip into your system by appearing to be from a friendly source. Any attachment must be scanned with an up-to-date anti-virus program before it is opened.

Another common virus route remains the floppy disk. While sharing of floppies is completely out of question, you must also be sure to remove the floppy before shutting the system down. This is because, if left inside, the computer will automatically try to boot from the floppy when you restart and this can launch the viruses residing on the disk. Keep your floppies labeled, and always scan floppies (even brand new ones) before using them.

A useful precaution to undertake would be to reset the security level on your web browser to a high or at least a medium level. This way, your system will give you a warning any time a potentially harmful file is trying to get uploaded onto the system. Setting up a firewall is another helpful measure to avoid viruses and other malware.

Follow the maxim that nothing comes free in life. This includes the free stuff that you may regularly download from various websites. Freeware invariably brings with it malware such as annoying adware, sneaky spyware or virulent viruses. This includes free games, wallpapers, music, screensavers, videos, images and so on. If you have to download any software from the Internet, ensure that it is scanned with a good anti-virus program, and also read the end-user agreement to ascertain that there are no hidden clauses.

The key to protecting your computer is installing a good quality, upgradable anti-virus program, which will enable you to detect, delete or altogether avoid the problem of viruses.

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