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Tag: malware

4 Tips to Keep Your Devices Safe from Internet Viruses

Viruses on the internet are super dangerous. It can easily infect your devices with malware. These viruses are harmful and can steal your personal information, delete your files, and slow down your computer. Not only that, but it can also cause your device to stop working altogether. Do you fear internet viruses? Do you wish to secure your device from internet viruses but are not sure what to do? No need to stress! We have gathered some of the best tips that can help you protect your device. Scroll down to start reading!

1. Antivirus software installation.

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When you use the internet, there’s always a possibility of a harmful virus or malware infecting your device. However, that doesn’t mean that it’s impossible to protect your device. Your top priority is to install and run a trustworthy antivirus software. This will help you stay safe from online threats, whether you do online shopping, banking, or browsing.

Related: “Tips to Prevent a Computer Virus”

2. Avoid opening suspicious email attachments.

One of the easiest ways to transfer a virus to another computer is through email attachments. Often, people open spam email attachments without thinking, which can lead to massive damage to the device. Therefore, sites like Gmail and Outlook ask for your permission to download the attachment. So next time you receive an email attachment from an unknown email address, think twice before you hit the download button. 

3. Avoid clicking on spam website links.

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If you find websites with suspicious names on the internet, avoid clicking on these links as these fake websites may contain viruses. If you click the link, the virus will enter your computer without you even realizing it and will gain access to all your confidential documents. Moreover, if you find buttons on spam websites or ads with the given below wording, just avoid clicking.

  • Click here 
  • Check me
  • Buy now 
  • Free 

Related: “How to Avoid a Computer Virus”

4. Create a backup for your device.

You cannot fully secure your computer. Even if you install anti-virus software on your computer, there will still be a chance of getting a virus on your device from the internet. Therefore, instead of neglecting all the red flags and regretting later, it’s better to make use of cloud backup. This way, you can store all your essential documents in a secure location that won’t be affected by the virus. Even if your device crashes because of the virus, you won’t have to deal with any unnecessary problems or loss of files. You can easily download and restore essential files from the cloud.

The Bottom Line 

We hope that the above guidelines will help you secure your device from internet viruses. If you want professionals to help you connect your device to a cloud storage or to get rid of viruses, consider National Computer Repair. We are one of the leading and most trusted companies delivering bespoke services at reasonable prices. Visit our website or give us a call at (615) 826-7550, and we’ll fix anything and everything that is wrong with your system.

4 Signs That Your Computer is Virus Infected

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Computers have become the essential drive force of today’s technology. Everybody has one – it could be a desktop, laptop, or even your smartphone. If your computer is not functioning properly, there is a chance that your system has been attacked by viruses and malware. The following are some signs that show your computer is infected by a virus:

1. Your computer is performing slowly.

A slow computer is a real test of patience. If you are experiencing a decline in the performance of your computer, your system might be virus infected. Many viruses out there overload your device through various methods. They then silently steal your resources and information and send it out to the hackers. Remember that it is not always a virus attack that slows down the computer. There can be other reasons for it too. Learn how to speed up your PC’s boot time.

2. There are always weird ads and pop-ups on your computer screen.

Unwanted pop-ups and ads can be extremely annoying. If you are receiving multiple pop-ups and ads, your computer might be malware infected. It is typical behavior of a malware to load more websites in attempts that you will download more malware and viruses. Some websites are designed in such way that they open multiple tabs presenting fake illegal content to download. Set your browser to block and disable all the unwanted ads and pop-ups.

3. You are experiencing sudden system crashes.

Sudden unexpected reboots are a tell-tale sign that something is wrong with your system. This is caused by extreme overheating or your device is running too many programs. It increases the workload on the computer and it’s bound to experience unexpected shutdowns. Suspicious apps and websites are one of the reasons your system might be facing this issue. Here is a quick guide on how you can prevent system crashes.

4. You are getting warnings from your anti-virus software.

This is a sure-fire sign that your computer is infected with harmful viruses. If your anti-virus acts up and tells you that your system might be facing some serious threats, you need to immediately act upon it. Modern anti-virus software works like magic. It will inform you beforehand that a certain piece of content or app is dangerous to your device and may make certain changes. Pay heed to the warning and look for an alternative place to download anything you are looking for. Here is a small list of free yet effective anti-virus software that you can download and save your system from harmful malwares and viruses.

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Conclusion

Getting your system attacked by viruses and malwares can be very problematic. It can result in the loss of your important personal data. But no need to worry, our experts at National Computer Repair are perfectly capable of tackling such issues in a very efficient way. Visit our website and check all the services that we offer to our clients. You can also simply call us at (615) 826-7550 and our professionals will assist you with your queries.   

The Early History of Computer Viruses

Computer viruses are designed for everything from pranks to bringing down organizations. Just like living viruses, computer viruses infect their hosts (host programs); and just like real viruses, these codes continue to change form every generation. And since there is currently no blanket solution to malware, it’s important to stay informed about viruses as much as possible. To learn about the earliest members among these troublemakers, simply read on.

Creeper Virus

Generally known as the very first computer virus, the Creeper Virus emerged in 1971. Bob Thomas, an engineer at BBN (Bolt, Beranek, and Newman), designed the Creeper Virus to demonstrate mobile capability and successfully infected ARPANET (an early form of Internet). The result was that infected devices displayed the message, “I’m the creeper: catch me if you can.” Thankfully, information security professionals came up with another self-replicating program named The Reaper to remove the Creeper.

The Brain

By 1986, the Farooq Brothers designed a virus called The Brain, also known as the Pakistani Flu. Whenever the host program ran, The Brain would increase its code volume, and thereby fill up the floppy disk. By hiding all the taken up storage space, the virus would leave the user with the impression that there was little to no content stored on the disk. The Brain was the very first PC-specific virus, the first stealth virus (a virus that hides from antivirus software), the first boot sector virus (a virus that infects the boot sector of the hard disk), and the virus to inspire the first anti-virus software for public use. The downside was that The Brain also led to the rise of Master Boot Record Viruses (MBRs), which overwrote existing data on a disk whenever opened.

Ghostball

A year after the Festering Hate virus wreaked havoc on Apple operating systems by ruining all files, another deadly virus by the name of Ghostball emerged on the world stage. The emergence of Ghostball in 1989 marked a definite shift in virus creation in that Ghostball was the very first of its kind to steal user information. Not only were viruses now delaying computer speeds and causing frustration, but they had also become means of theft and loss of personal data.

Conclusion

Learning about virus history can make one feel uneasy, but that awareness is precisely what we need in order to be better prepared against those destructive measures. The best way to counter a Trojan virus or any new malicious program is to exercise caution when visiting websites, opening emails, and downloading things online. If you have questions about viruses and your computer, feel free to bring them to National Computer Repair today.