- 1). Never click on a suspicious ad. This can include virtually any ad, since malicious companies may use ads that mimic those from legitimate outfits. If you are interested in something that's being advertised but are suspicious of the ad, make a note of the offer and company and do a search for their website. Then visit the site directly.
- 2). Beware of "warning messages" that appear to be generated by your computer but that are actually disguised ads. For example, a box might pop up that you have a virus and need to do an immediate scan. By clicking the ad, you may be downloading a program that will bombard you with ads for unneeded anti-virus software or dubious programs and products.
- 3). Always run up-to-date virus-protection software and spyware-protection software. This gives your computer a one-two punch of protection. There are free programs, such as AVG's virus protection and Spy-Bot Search and Destroy, that you can use if you don't want to purchase protection.
- 4). Be cautious when visiting websites. Many questionable websites are set up to do drive-by downloads. However, even some seemingly safe sites can be compromised by hackers and set up to install malicious software without the knowledge of the site's owner.
- 5). Never download software via a link in an email or a website that you reached via an email link. This is a common way in which computers are compromised. For example, you might open an email that claims to link you to a news story but directs you to download a "special viewer" in order to see the video. Delete these emails.
SHARE
