There are many great products available for purchase and download these days for our personal computers. These include music, audiobooks, creative fonts, games and a variety of software. However, before you download something onto your computer, you need to make sure that the download won't infect your computer with a virus or malware. Here are some easy tips that can help keep you safe and secure.
It is important, first of all, to never download anything unless you trust the source. For some items, such as music from iTunes or downloads from companies such as Microsoft, you are probably very secure. However, other websites are less well known and possibly less secure. If the site is unknown to you, do some research and see if other people have downloaded items safely from this source.
File extensions also can be troublesome, and these are located at the end of every file and might look like .gif or perhaps .jpeg. There are many different extensions and often those that look like .exe, .doc, .scr and .bat can be malicious. However, anytime you download from a source you aren't 100% sure about, it is wise to scan the file first with your anti-virus program.
One of the easiest ways for malware to spread around is through email. While an email from an unknown source is easy to simply delete, we tend to open emails from co-workers, friends and family. Often these people will send perfectly legitimate links to a video or a specific website. On the other hand, sometimes the email will look a bit odd and ask you to click on a link with little or no explanation. This often means your friend's email account has been hacked and if you click on the link, you will be hacked as well. Hover over the link, but don't click on it, and check to see that the source matches the description. For instance, the email might say "check out this YouTube video," but the link actually doesn't go to YouTube, but some other site. Don't click on these links and when it doubt, just delete the email.
Another common problem occurs when people attempt to download copyrighted items such as music or movies from sites illegally. If you cannot find a song, movie or book from a legitimate source such as iTunes or Amazon, other sites often sell them illegally. However, not only is the buyer violating copyright law, the seller might be including a virus along with your download.
If your PC does become infected, removing the malware can be tricky and time-consuming, so it's often easier to simply call in a Portland computer repair expert to handle the job for you. GeeksAKnockin', for instance, offers computer support in Portland, computer support in Hillsboro, computer support in Gresham, computer repair in Beaverton and throughout the Portland area.
It is important, first of all, to never download anything unless you trust the source. For some items, such as music from iTunes or downloads from companies such as Microsoft, you are probably very secure. However, other websites are less well known and possibly less secure. If the site is unknown to you, do some research and see if other people have downloaded items safely from this source.
File extensions also can be troublesome, and these are located at the end of every file and might look like .gif or perhaps .jpeg. There are many different extensions and often those that look like .exe, .doc, .scr and .bat can be malicious. However, anytime you download from a source you aren't 100% sure about, it is wise to scan the file first with your anti-virus program.
One of the easiest ways for malware to spread around is through email. While an email from an unknown source is easy to simply delete, we tend to open emails from co-workers, friends and family. Often these people will send perfectly legitimate links to a video or a specific website. On the other hand, sometimes the email will look a bit odd and ask you to click on a link with little or no explanation. This often means your friend's email account has been hacked and if you click on the link, you will be hacked as well. Hover over the link, but don't click on it, and check to see that the source matches the description. For instance, the email might say "check out this YouTube video," but the link actually doesn't go to YouTube, but some other site. Don't click on these links and when it doubt, just delete the email.
Another common problem occurs when people attempt to download copyrighted items such as music or movies from sites illegally. If you cannot find a song, movie or book from a legitimate source such as iTunes or Amazon, other sites often sell them illegally. However, not only is the buyer violating copyright law, the seller might be including a virus along with your download.
If your PC does become infected, removing the malware can be tricky and time-consuming, so it's often easier to simply call in a Portland computer repair expert to handle the job for you. GeeksAKnockin', for instance, offers computer support in Portland, computer support in Hillsboro, computer support in Gresham, computer repair in Beaverton and throughout the Portland area.
About the Author:
Frankline Bell loves blogging reviews on computer repairs and support companies. To get further information about the best computer repair Hillsboro Oregon professionals or to find out more about Portland computer repair services, please go to the GeeksAKnockin site now.