This is the third in our ongoing series of blogs on cyber security, how you can protect your business and the support we can offer. The previous blogs in the series can be found in the Cyber Security section of the website.
What are computer viruses?
Computer viruses are one of those things that get spoken about regularly and most people understand that they are bad news. But do you know what a computer virus actually is? Put simply, a computer virus is a type of malicious program (usually called malware) that can modify and insert its own code in other programs on a computer. The code inserted by the virus will usually have some sort of negative impact on the computer, often disabling some or all of the computer’s functions. Viruses can be in the form of ‘ransomware’, where the creator of the virus will demand payment to remove the virus from the affected computer. However, a lot of viruses are also created, for want of a better term, for the hell of it.
As we set out in our blog on phishing, viruses are often used by the perpetrators of phishing attacks. We would definitely recommend you read that blog and follow some of the tips on how to spot and avoid phishing messages.
However, whilst phishing is one of the main routes for hackers to use viruses, there are any number of other ways that a computer could become infected. This can be a particular risk for small businesses, where you and your workers may be working on the move and using unsecured public wi-fi connections.
How can you protect your computer?
As you will likely know, there is a plethora of antivirus software available to help protect your IT. These include both free and paid options. The best choice for your company will depend on your budget and how much protection you require.
To begin with, Windows Security is built into any device running Windows 10 or 11. This will regularly check for viruses, malware or other security issues with a Windows computer, and provides a good level of basic protection.
If you want more protection, there are a wide range of options for different requirements and budgets. These range from upgraded antivirus software, such as Norton 360, that build on the protection offered by Windows Security by offering additional features, depending on the package, such as cloud storage, a password manager or VPN private internet connections.
The software packages ramp up to full security suites, such as Bitdefender GravityZone Small Business Security, which offers a comprehensive package of security measures to ensure your business is as protected as possible against threats.
As with all decisions on software, we would strongly recommend you research the options available to you and see what represents the best level of protection and value for money for your business.
What else can you do?
As well as virus protection software, there are some steps that you and your teams should take to limit the chance of your IT becoming infected. A lot of this comes down to being sensible in terms of what you do on your work computer. In particular, look to ensure that you know and trust the source of any links you click on and any website that you visit.
As well as this, you should make sure the operating system of your computer is up to date. Windows computers will let you know when there is an update, so don’t ignore this as they usually include important security updates that will make sure your computer protection is up to date.
Finally, even if you are careful, it can be easy to accidentally navigate to a website that might have harmful pop-ups. Using a pop-up blocker in your browser can help prevent malicious pop-ups from infecting your computer.
How to spot a virus and what to do if your computer has one
So far, we’ve talked about the ways in which you can protect yourself against getting a virus. But how can you tell if your computer is infected and what should you do if it is? Well, the most important thing is to set up a regular schedule for scanning your computer.
Regardless of which antivirus software you use, there will be a feature that scans your computer for any viruses that may be present. You will be alerted to any suspicious files or programs and will be able to safely remove these from your computer.
If there is a more serious problem, possibly where a virus has already compromised some, or all, of your computer, there are still options available to you, for example a clean re-installation of Windows.
If your computer has been infected, removing the virus can be a complicated procedure and you should consult an IT professional for advice on how to proceed and to avoid any loss of data.
How can we help
There are an awful lot of options for how to best protect your IT against viruses. If you would like to have a conversation about the right solution for you, please contact us at contact@mckeownscullin.com.
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