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The problem with computer viruses and online scams is that users (newbies) usually blames the source of the infection on their computer or friends. They couldn’t be more wrong, the source of the problem is the user himself. Using the computer in a smart way is probably the best way to prevent getting infected by nasty computer viruses.  I’ve been running on Windows virus-less for 1 year now and I only use Microsoft Security Essentials, yet some people still manage to infect themselves with the nastiest kinds of viruses weeks after buying their brand new computer. So here’s a list of techniques you can use to not become an easy target for viruses.

Don’t download or click anything blindly

If something is too god to be true, then it probably is. Don’t ever downloads something from a popup window or websites that promises you free smiley or Facebook themes in exchange for downloading their little program. E-mail phishing is also another popular method utilized by scammers. Don’t click on suspicious e-mails and NEVER give your bank or credit card credential to to an e-mail or third party website, even if they appear legitimate. Double check the website address before entering details. Make sure you are on a safe connection(https:// before the URL). Banks will never ask your password through e-mail. The same applies for other websites, like Facebook, Twitter, Steam or online viruses. Never give out your password to an Facebook app or you might find your account hijacked the next morning.

Use a better Internet Browser

Internet Explorer, especially IE6, is the bane of web designers because of its many flaws and incomparability with the modern web. That makes you a easier target for browser exploits and viruses than alternative browsers such as Firefox, Chrome or Opera. These browsers have better support for Internet standards and have more anti-phishing and anti-virus measures than IE.

Use Adblock and WOT

Now that you are using better browsers like Firefox or Chrome. You should install Adblock Plus for Firefox or AdThwart for Chrome. They are great for hiding ads in web pages and popups. Reduces annoyances and makes web browsing a safer and better experience.

Also, you should install website rating plugins like WOT or Siteadvisor. These plugins will display the trustworthiness and relative safety of websites using green, yellow and red lights. You will also be warned if you stumble upon a dangerous website. Plugins like WOT are not fail proof, as websites are rated by the community and false-positives may occur.

Use a anti-malware solution

For most people, free anti-virus solutions are more than enough to counter possible infections. Norton and Symantec are a waste of your money as they are memory hogs and comparable to free viruses scanners. They actually use more system resources than they should and will slow down your computer. I use Microsoft Security Essentials and it goes a great job for its bang for the buck. (See our other article here) If you want to be on the safer side, you can try using Malwarebytes alongside with MSE. Using a firewall is not absolutely necessary, as they block more legitimate apps and games than malwares in my case, but you should use one if you need to protect your sensitive data.

Did I forgot to cover some other tips? Comment below. As always, subscribe to us for more guides!

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