Top Advice to Ensure Effective Antivirus Software

30.05.2011 | Author: Peter McKiel | Posted in Software
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Computing malware is an ever increasing threat unfortunately, and it often seems that cyber criminals are one step ahead when it comes to thinking up new ways to dupe the public. What’s more, the interconnection of devices makes it easier than ever for viruses to spread like wild fire and without your knowledge.

The following guide will give you some key dos and don’ts when it comes to buying and maintaining Antivirus software, to help you steer clear of malware infections. And if the worst happens, read on to understand how to easily tackle the problem.

Need-To-Know Antivirus Rules

The main problem with anti-virus programs (or AV scanners) is that they’re often badly configured and out-of-date, which means they’re hard pressed to get the job done right.

Here are some top tips when it comes to keeping your Antivirus software in good fighting condition:

  • Update your antivirus signature files and scanning engines regularly. While a weekly update is good, daily is even better if you want to be super vigilant.
  • Set your antivirus program to run in the background as a full-time, automatic, auto-protection service.
  • Enable scans of your computer’s memory, master and boot records, as well as a system files check whenever you start up your machine.
  • Configure your antivirus program to scan all files, not only the executable programs, since viruses can infect every sort of file and program.
  • If your software includes the feature, enable its heuristic controls – this is a predictive action rather than only scanning for the exact virus codes that have previously been detected. While a heuristic scan takes slightly longer to complete, it is well worth it in terms of added peace of mind when it comes to robust security.
  • Enable Macro Virus Protection in all your Microsoft Office programs.
  • Disable the Preview Pane view in Outlook and Outlook Express – the reason for this is that some viruses can be launched by simply previewing them, before your antivirus software is able to give them a thorough scan.
  • Don’t open attachments from people you don’t know or attachments that seem suspicious.
  • Never allow your e-mail programs to “auto open” attachments as they will not have been scanned for malware.
  • Enabling JavaScript for e-mail is not a good idea as it is vulnerable to viruses and other glitches.
  • It’s best to configure your e-mail programs to display messages in plain text only rather than HTML formatted, since Web-based e-mail has many virus vulnerabilities.
  • Windows Scripting Host (WSH) controls the Visual Basic Language on your computer and many viruses have been written with the same code. Thus it’s a good idea to disable it when not in use, as this will prevent many viruses from being able to operate.

    Dealing with a Virus Infection

    No matter how good your Antivirus software is, the determined efforts of cyber criminals means that sadly, the chances are many people’s computers will suffer a malware infection at some point. This is because while your security program might be excellent, malware often sneaks in under the radar, such as when you click on an infected link and thus give the malware permission to enter.

    Nevertheless, if the worst happens and you find your computer has a virus infection, here are the steps to take:

    1 – Identify the Malware Type

    If your antivirus program is kept up to date, in most cases it will be able to recognise the infection. If not, spending some time at online blogs will be sure to help you identify it.

    2 – Locate the Infection Source

    Run a scan of every file and program on your computer to pinpoint its exact location.

    3 – Quarantine and Eliminate

    Your antivirus software can be instructed to quarantine the virus so that it cannot spread further. The next obvious step is to have your security program destroy it.

    Sometimes your antivirus product won’t be able to reverse the infection however, which means that you’ll have to manually tackle it. To do this, you will need to change your registry settings or reinstall some, if not all, of the operating system. You can usually find help with this from your anti-virus supplier’s Web site, but if not, simply give them a call.

    Conclusion

    When you buy Antivirus software, it’s important to ensure it has robust features (including heuristic scanning) which you understand and correctly configure. The most crucial factor in keeping your computing security as good as it can be however is to religiously keep it updated, since Antivirus products are only effective in so far as their database of malware threats is kept current.

    About the Author: Peter McKiel is an IT Consultant and independent advisor on how to choose and buy Antivirus software.

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