Three Rules to Prevent Computer Virus Infections

First Rule: Read Your Computer Screens.

Read the window that pops up on your computer screen before you hit "Okay", "Cancel", "Run", "Yes", "No", or even "Maybe"! People are like monkeys. Any monkey can be trained to hit a button to get what it wants. We have been trained with a Pavlovian response to hit a button, get something out of our face, and then we get what we want. Every virus writer knows this! Most viruses don't get you because of sophisticated programming code. They get you with social engineering. They get you because they know that most humans don't think. Like monkeys, most humans will hit the button until we get what we want, regardless of what that button really does. So, many of the viruses I am hired at expensive rates to remove, are installed by the user because they were tricked into hitting a button without reading the screen. But the really insidious part of this scenario is that one screen is often a EULA (End User License agreement). This is a legally binding contract that, by hitting the "Okay" button, affirms your agreement to the terms and conditions of proceeding with the installation. In other words, even if you know the person who did this to you and you had them in court in front of a judge, you could not hold them liable for the damage to your computer system because you legally agreed to the installation that caused the damage. They screwed ya, and you legally asked for it. You must read your screens!

Second Rule: Google Everything.

Now, this doesn't mean that you must use Google, any search engine will do. But, anything that you don't understand... Google It! This can apply to anything of life's issues in today's world, but in this context, if you read your screens and you come across a company you don't know, a program you don't recognize, or a message that just don't make any sense to you... GOOGLE IT! If the company, its software, or its messages are legitimate, your Google search will reveal information supporting its legitimacy. If it is a fake trying to trick you into a disaster, you will see thousands of websites all saying how bad it is and all of the problems it causes. You don't need to read any further; in a heartbeat, you know to close every window before this thing really gets you into trouble.

Third Rule: Maintain, Trust, and use YOUR Antivirus Properly.

This involves a few things. First, just like the lock on your front door, if it isn't installed properly, maintained properly, and used properly, it won't keep bad guys out. Installed properly is fairly obvious. If there is an error during installation, it ain't workin. Remove the antivirus, reinstall it, or pick a different one. Second, maintaining the security system properly. If the subscription runs out or the software stops updating, it is not properly maintained. Just like the lock on your front door, if the screws are hanging out, it ain't protecting you. Fix it or you will have an intrusion. Second, you have a security system. This is like your computers security guarding company. If your house is guarded by Brink's Home Security, you wouldn't trust a guy from ACME Security Systems to come and fix a security problem, but this is exactly what happens. Some fake antivirus warning pops in front of your face warning you of all of these infections, but if it is not YOUR antivirus, RUN!!! Third, Use Your Security System Properly. If you have a lock on your front door that you never lock and you invite anyone who knocks to "come on in", no lock can protect you. Using your antivirus properly means that you do not invite everyone in and that you scan everything that you download before you run it. If you don't use your antivirus properly, you will get infected and your computer will die. Just like the lock on your front door, it’s only a matter of time until a bad guy tries to open it.

These are the three rules to avoid getting a virus on your computer. These are the three rules that, if everybody followed, I would lose 80% of my computer repair business overnight. But these are the three rules that so few people follow, so, my job is secure. Keep breaking these rules and, as a computer repair technician, I'll always have work. But, if you can follow these rules, I can finally stop that insanity and do something I really like. So, be smart, be careful, and be virus free.