What are Viruses and Why Should we use an Anti Virus Software? ( Part 3 - After Installing Anti Virus Software)

This is the part 3 (After Installing Anti Virus Software) of the discussion "What are Viruses and Why Should we use an Anti Virus Software?"

Click here to read the Part 1 (What are Viruses)
Click here to read the Part 2 (Computer viruses, worms and Trojans)
After Installing Anti Virus Software - What Should I Do?

Update the Anti-Virus Database
Your first step should be to update the virus signature database that came with the installation. New viruses are being created every day, and the databases that the anti-virus programs use are being updated as well. You need to get the latest database for your program right away.
Most of the programs have update functions that will locate, download and install the latest databases automatically. Make sure that this is enabled.

Run Regular Scans
Most of the anti-virus programs work automatically. Once installed they are configured to scan all incoming and outgoing files, and often hook into your email in some way to double check that your received email is clean as well.
Unless you know what you're doing, make sure that this "real time" scanning is enabled.
I also recommend periodically running scans of your hard disk(s). Certainly when you first install the software you should run a full scan. Then, depending on how heavily used your machine is, you should run a scan periodically as well.
Some programs will allow you to schedule such a scan to happen automatically. In my case, for example, since my computer is on 24 hours a day, I schedule full virus scans nightly, while I'm asleep.

Keep Windows Up-To-Date
Windows Update regularly or simply enables the automatic update feature in Windows XP.
All software has bugs. Some of those bugs are used to create the exploits that virus writers take advantage of to create viruses that can infect your system. As these bugs are found, Microsoft fixes the affected components in the operating system, and makes those fixes available for download and install using Windows Update.
The "problem", is that even once the bugs are discovered and publicized, and even when the fix is available, virus writers get busy writing viruses that still exploit them. Why? Because they know not everyone stays up-to-date.
Keep Windows up-to-date. Let someone else have the "fun" of being infected with the latest viruses.


Theses the things you might do to keep your computer protected. Sadly, there is no best anti-virus program. Each may miss some something that the other's catch. The best advice is to use one, any one, and have the others "on call" for those cases when spyware sneaks past the one you use regularly.
If you do install more than one package, you should not enable the "real time" scanning for more than one at the same time - they will conflict with each other, and will cause unpredictable results.

Basic anti-virus tips
•    Keep your anti-virus software up to date
•    Run your anti-virus software regularly
•    Use a firewall
•    Update & apply patches to close vulnerabilities

You can search Google for a free Anti-Virus Software(Google search list).

Download and install the package of your choice. Now! Before you forget...

At the end of the discussion, I think you got a good knowledge under the topic "What are Viruses and Why Should we use an Anti Virus Software?"

I hope to post some useful tips like this in my future posts. Follow to get updates.
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