Internet - Network and Internet Virus

So many people are searching for virus protection, searching and finding different answers, wasting money, loosing time and sometimes having to send PC to fix.

Is right to search solutions after the problem exists, but if we could do something before that?

You do not need to be a expert to do some preventive actions.

So i will explain to you the way i would explain it to a child what you can do.

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OK, you just bought a Computer.

These are the first steps:

1. Certify there is no CD, DVD, Diskette, or Pen drive in the Drives (must be all empty so we won't get some local network virus)
2. Connect the computer to the electricity (if is a Desktop PC, check now the CD/DVD drive, because it will open only when is connected to the energy)
3. When connected, certify if someone already use this computer or operating system (you do this by first observe the desktop for strange icons or some pop ups when starting)
4. Install One Antivirus directly from a trusty, safe CD/DVD (Never from the Internet)
5. Scan your PC with the antivirus after install it

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Do not install any programs yet, no firefox, chrome, torrent apps, (NOTHING), you need to complete the following steps first:

• Connect to the Internet and get the latest updates for your Operating System
• After the updates are installed, reboot the computer and see if all works fine
• Go to your default web browser (example: Internet explorer) and:
  • Define your settings for security
  • and privacy (you can set to accept session cookies and accept first part cookies, block third part cookies

• If you or your browser haves a Pop up blocker, activate it

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A safe navigation starts always with a good and secure web browser and some primary settings:

If you feel you don't have enough experience or if you think you can fall into some malicious websites then

• If you are using Internet Explorer, keep it, because is the most secure browser that will block some bad behavior javascript scripts and has the best privacy policies
• If you want to use FireFox, Opera, Safari..etc please ask some one with experience to take a look in the advanced security settings for scripts, and also the folders that this browser is using
• Navigate only inside web sites you trust and never click in strange pop up buttons or install active x plug ins unless is from a safe source like Microsoft.
• If you download something from the Internet, never tell it to save the file in the root of your Disk (c:\) and if you can, chose a folder from another disk (d:\myfolder), scan the file with your antivirus before you open or install
  

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Case you don't know, a network is not only the computers you have inside your house or office, is also everything that can connect to your computer with data ready to use or to install.

• So please never insert other's person pen drive if you do not trust him or if you think he may had insert that pen drive in some infected computer
• Do not insert strange Cd's or DVDs or even diskettes that you do not know what is inside
• Do not install software from a Cd, DVD...etc that you do not know what is inside or what the program will do on your operating system

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