Keeping your computer free from viruses is something that we know we all have to do. But it is not top of our list of most important things. That is, until the day your machine is the subject of a catastrophic virus attack. You could lose valuable work, documents and hours of time. In short it is far better to prevent this happening than to try to deal with a crisis latter. Here are some tips on helping you avoid this situation

1) Do Not Open Email Attachments

Unless it is from a trusted source that you were expecting. This is a common way for viruses to be transmitted from one computer to another. Opening the attachment activates the virus.

2) Use a Spam Detector

If you use an email spam detector like Mailwasher you will be able to cut down on spam email you receive. Not only is this type of email annoying and time consuming, it's a way that programmers distribute computer viruses.

3) Use Antivirus Software

This software should be installed on every machine. If you have a computer with Internet access, it is essential.

4) Keep Your Antivirus Software Up To Date

Once you have your software installed, ensure that you are protected from the latest viruses. If you have a brand new computer, the first thing you should do after connecting to the Internet is to go to the website of your antivirus software to download the latest updates.

Most of the better programs have automatic updates that occur in the background while you are connected to the Internet. If you are buying software, check to see if this feature is included.

5) Be Careful Sharing Files

We all love passing on funny games and little applications to friends. But be careful. Some of these have been loaded with viruses and spyware that could compromise your PC.

6) Scan Before Opening

Get into the habit of scanning everything that you bring onto your machine before you open it. This could be a file that you download from the Internet or a CD of data that a work colleague has given you.

7) Patch Up Software

If you receive a security patch update, be sure to make sure that you install it. This is where a security vulnerability has been identified and a patch has been released to prevent the risk. This occurs regularly for the Windows operating systems.

Discover how to perform free virus scans by visting http://www.top-antivirus-software.com . Check out the latest review of Trend antivirus software.