How do I avoid viruses?

>The critical rule is to buy a GOOD SOFTWARE SECURITY SUITE to protect yourself. This should include, anti-virus, antimalware, spam guard protection, password protection and an excellent FIREWALL.

I use ESET Smart Security 4.0 which has the highest virusbulletin award of any of the security suites. Even better than Symantec or McCaffe...ESET consistently beats out every other security suite out there for protection.

http://www.eset.com/

What you want is the security suite package, not just the anti-virus package.

Yes, ESET is more expensive, but then you get the protection you have to have.

It does not take your computer over like Symantec does. It does not do funky, weird updating like McCafee does. It does constant updates on its own.

You should also use at least two other softwares, Superantispyware and Antimalwarebytes. The free edition of both is adequate but you have to manually keep the definition tables up to date. Usually, running one and then the other in a scan, picks up the weird trojans and other stuff that any antivirus package will miss. Antivirus software is traditionally poor at picking up backdoor invasions, rootkits, trojans and worms...so you need to run a couple other things and then about once a week, run a scan on your computer.

Make sure, whatever you buy, you have a GOOD firewall.

DO NOT, use any kind of file sharing utility, like LIMEWIRE for example.

Do not share music or anything else over the net.

Do not open email from anyone you do not know, and especially if it has any kind of attachment.

Do not be suckered by fake security software on the net which is nothing but a way of busting into your computer. If you click on something and some kind of software pops up and says you are infected - WATCH OUT! Its a fake. Don't let it scan your computer, hit CTRL-ALT-DEL, bring up task manager and cut it off. If you cannot cut it off, pull the plug on your internet, I mean, yourcable box if you have to...these malicious sites sometimes invade after clicking a malicious javascript applet and won't let go unless you physically break the connection! DO NOT fall for anything you don't know is right! So many people get suckered by these fake antivirus programs and loose everything.

Do NOT share files with buddies at work or at school. Don't use pirate software. If you download anything - ANY file on the net, make sure you scan it with antivirus and antimalware before opening it.

Keep your definition tables updated frequently and run scans often.

That's my advice.

2

1) Use common sense.

2) Avast! is free and it is what I install by default on all of my client's machines.

3) No, nobody ever thinks they're going to get a virus. It happens, and when it does you want to punch yourself in the face. No matter how much common sense you have, or how hard you try, it WILL happen to all of us.

I was 13 when I built my first computer. It had a 266MHz Pentium II and 64 MB ram, if I recall correctly. I am 20 now.

Jim gave the best answer but one of the most important things is common sense i mean you are building your own computer come on shouldn't you first try and learn the basics be for jumping off a cliff?

i code for a living and just for the heck of it and i can tell you that those free antivirus software's are crap you are better of buying a good solid antivirus.

To avoid viruses, install anti-virus software !!

The best anti-virus I experienced is Norton and as for websites you should have a firewall, which now a days is already installed in most of the laptops and PCs, you just have to activate it. It would tell you if a website is safe or not !!!

And Norton is not free, older versions are ...

Answers follow respectively:

1)Get one or more Anti Virus Programs that have live scanning (Use Microsoft Security Essentials, Its free!)

2)Yes As above

3)Yes, but found some great software that blocks all the nasty viruses

4)14

5)Yes

6)Just get the anti virus software, nothing fancy

Download Avast. Turn On automatic definitions update. And You safe

Virus are very small. What type of virus are you talking about? If ur talking about HIV virus, abstanence is the best way by not having sexual intercourse.

Dont step on cold floors to avoid the cold virus.

Hitman Pro, is the good software for virus remove. Lots of professional used that. just google it you will find.

stay off line, never a problem.