What hurt can a virus do to your computer operating system? The answer is probably best illustrated by explaining what some of the things that can happen to a computer when malicious software somehow makes it into the personal computer through actions undertaken by the computer’s user or through some sneaky method employed by more than a few entities out on the Internet.

For one, when your computer is infected with a virus or spyware program you will notice that your PC is not as responsive. What this means is that the computer might start to suffer from a severe number of reboots or shutdowns that have not been commanded by the user. Also, the computer might suddenly start redirecting the Internet browser to websites that were not answered into the browser URL locator.

Eventually, some forms of malicious software — that’s the longhand name for malware — can cause a computer to go into terminal shutdown and will have so terribly infected the computer’s hard drive that it will need to be replaced and a new operating system installed. Even at that, some software programs of this type sneakily hide in other areas of the computer’s memory.

Windows malware can get into a Windows PC through a number of methods. In one, a computer’s user unknowingly allows a download of the software from a seemingly innocent file that is being recommended for download by the computer’s operating system. Often, the file will look like something official from Microsoft or a well-known antivirus software maker.

It is when this file is downloaded and executed that malicious software starts its attack. It can hijack the computer without the user even knowing it and turn it into a zombie that is running in the background and being chained to other computers in a huge network, often under the control of some criminal organization in Russia or East Europe.

The google redirect virus and the system tool virus are examples of perilous malware

The computer is then used to send out in a fit number of spam e-mails or advertisements to other computers which are then infected by the same malicious software programs and harnessed into a network that keeps on growing. There are things one can do, though, to help aid in preventing a computer from being infected by windows malware software.

An vital thing that a computer user should never do is open or download a file from a website or a personthat they do not trust or are not associated with . Also, make sure there is a very strong antivirus software program on the computer and that any suspicious files are scanned for malicious software or viruses or Trojan horses and the like.

In the end, eternal vigilance is the price of personal computer liberty. It is not a stretch to say that one must always be suspicious of every single thing and website that is available out on the Internet. Windows malware can get into a computer from a variety of sources, and a smart user will always look at everything on the Internet with just a bit of distrust.

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With so much knowledge of virus and spyware removal I know first hand how hard and impossible removing viruses can be. There have been times when I have been spending days working on cleaning a virus from an infected computer system

The google redirect virus and the windows system tool are examples of perilous malware. But, my personal computer has never been infected with a virus. Therefore, I am writing a ‘users-guide’ to virus-free computing. There are many valuable sites out there who give the basic steps to staying clean but I am going to attempt to go one step further and clarify some of the lesser-know techniques.

Before we get started lets question the million-dollar question; “Why do people make viruses?”

There are many reasons why people make spyware and viruses. Traditionally, malware was written by college kids for ‘bragging rights’ or by disgruntled employees. Today, the majority of malware is written for financial gain. There are many ways in which a malware author can make money off of you or your computer. Their main source of income is using rogue Anti-Virus software to ‘scare’ the user into inputting their credit card in order to ‘clean’ their computer. This is a complete scam!
What starts as a seemingly innocent warning about a virus on your machine quickly turns into numerous pop-ups and nag screens to the point that you can no longer use the computer. All the screens point you to ‘registering’ the software to get rid of all these viruses. Once you “register the software” the computer is still infected because the program asking to be registered is itself the virus.

The Basic Steps

Avoid All Peer-to-Peer Downloads – Peer-to-Peer networks include; Limewire, Bit-torrent, Frostwire, Gnutella, Kazaa and Bearshare. These file sharing networks are used to exchange files from one user to the other. Due to their high exposure and the fact that viruses can be easily disguised as legitimate files, peer-to-peer network are to be avoided at all costs. If you are only downloading music or movie files you are still EXTREMELY exposed to infections. Once I remove a virus from a computer and the computer has a peer-to-peer program installed, I also remove the peer-to-peer program. NEVER DOWNLOAD FROM PEER-TO-PEER NETWORKS.

Keep Your Anti-Virus Software Updated – New viruses are being released all the time therefore your Anti-Virus program needs to be updated on a daily basis. Most modern Anti-Virus programs do this automatically.

Keep Your System Updated – Keeping your computer’s operating system up-to-date is extremely vital. The ‘terrible guys’ are always looking and finding new vulnerabilities in your computer therefore, it is absolutely vital that you install new updates as they are released. The steps to updating your system can be found here: Windows XP, Vista, Seven, Mac OS X.

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Is your firewall giving your non system the strongest security possible? We suggests 10 smart ways to make the most of firewall software.

Get a free firewall

Firewall software is essential for keeping your PC safe from hackers, viruses and other malware, but you don’t necessarily have to pay for the protection. Several powerful firewalls are available for free, including Outpost Firewall Free (http://free.agnitum.com) and Online Armor Firewall (www.tallemu.com). If you’re not sure which is the best firewall for you, visit the Security Focus site (www.securityfocus.com) for an in-depth article about what to look for when choosing a firewall. You can also read our reviews of free and paid-for firewall software at http://bit.ly/fire233.

Turn on your built-in firewall

Most operating systems now come with a built-in firewall. If you use Windows XP, go to http://bit.ly/xpfire233 and click the Fix It logo to activate the Windows Firewall using Microsoft’s wizard. Similar pages are available for Vista (http://bit.ly/vistafire233) and Windows 7 (http://bit.ly/win7fire233). But, we only recommend using the Windows Firewall as a temporary solution because it doesn’t offer the same level of security as third-party software and there are much better alternatives available for free. Mac OS X users also have a built-in firewall they can take advantage of. Download the free tool NoobProof (www.hanynet.com/noobproof) to set up and configure your Mac’s firewall.

Search for rootkits

Firewalls protect your PC from the moment you install them, but it’s worth checking whether any rootkits are already lurking on your system. These are hidden programs designed to provide someone with root (administrator) level access to your PC, usually for malicious purposes. Sophos Anti-Rootkit (http://bit.ly/sophos233) is a free tool that will detect and remove these nasties. Download the software to scan your Windows Registry, local hard disks and system processes.

Test your firewall

If you’re not sure whether your existing firewall is protecting you adequately, why not test it online for free? GRC Shields Up (http://bit.ly/grc233) checks whether your ports are adequately protected by scanning your PC for vulnerabilities. The website also offers some general firewall security advice. Another online firewall checker is SecurityMetrics (http://bit.ly/secure233). This also offers a port test and sends you recommendations for improving your firewall configuration via email. Finally, AuditMyPC (www.auditmypc.com/firewalltest.asp) offers a thorough test of either one or a range of ports to check your firewall’s effectiveness.

Optimise your firewall configuration

Rather than testing your firewall’s ability to protect your PC, Firewall Auditor (www.fwauditor.com) checks that the software meets the 15 firewall-specific requirements of the PCI Security Standards Council (https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org). Firewall Auditor is free to download but is limited to Cisco, Check Point and Juniper firewalls.

Alternatively, there’s Athena Firewall (www.athenasecurity.net), which has support for Netscreen firewalls. There are also commercial tools, such as Nipper (www.titania.co.uk), which audits network switches and routers as well as a wide range of firewalls.

Get a firewall for your mobile phone

Firewalls aren’t just for computers – they can now protect your phone and other mobile devices. MCleaner (www.mcleaner.com) offers a free trial of a firewall that filters incoming calls and text messages according to phone numbers and keywords. Designed to block junk texts and annoying callers, this compact 200KB firewall works on a wide range of mobiles, including the iPhone (see www.mcleaner.com/support.shtml). The full version costs $11.99 (around £7.37). Another option is ProtectStar Mobile Firewall (www.protectstar.com), which is aimed at Windows Pocket PCs and smartphones. Visit http://bit.ly/protect233 to get a 10-day free trial.

Get a USB firewall

If you frequently use PCs while away from home, why not get a firewall you can take with you wherever you go? Yoggie Firewall Pico (www.yoggie.com/Firewall-Pico) is a hardware firewall in the form of a small USB device that is capable of isolating a PC from public hotspots and internet connections. The Firewall Pico costs £60 but is limited to Windows Vista and XP. The same manufacturer also sells an all-in-one USB firewall, anti-virus and spyware stick for Mac users. This is called Gatekeeper Pico and is priced at £100.

Set up a VPN

To make a secure connection to an office PC or other network, you need a virtual private network (VPN) that protects your information from being intercepted while it’s in transit between firewall-protected PCs. It’s worth spending time evaluating VPN tools to get software that offers you the right level of encryption. In the meantime, you can download the free VPN client Ultra (https://www.ultravpn.fr).

As with firewalls, VPNs are also available as USB sticks, such as the flash drive from SurfBouncer (www.surfbouncer.com). Remember to check that your firewall doesn’t already come with a VPN included.

Get wireless firewall

Mi-Fi (intelligent mobile) hotspots provide up to five wireless mobile devices with both an internet connection and firewall protection, whether they’re laptops, netbooks or mobile phones. To use them, buy a Mi-Fi router such as the Novatel 2532 (www.novatelwireless.com). Only slightly larger than a credit card, this comes with both a firewall and VPN installed. The 2532 is priced around £209.99 including VAT and is available on T-Mobile (www.t-mobile.co.uk). A cheaper option is 3’s Huawei E5830 Mi-Fi wireless modem (http://bit.ly/mifi233), which is available for £69.99 on pay-as-you-go with a 3GB data allowance and includes VPN and firewall support.

Monitor your traffic

Firewalls are fantastic at protecting PCs but they’re often less effective at revealing the patterns of incoming and outgoing traffic between your PC and the internet. To find out which trusted programs are getting online through your firewall, download the free tool NetLimiter 2 Monitor (www.netlimiter.com). This analyses the web traffic on your PC and provides a list of all applications communicating with the internet, along with their connection and transfer rates, and any hidden apps.