The FBI recently issued a warning about a computer scam that starts on the phone: it receives a call from someone who claims to work for an "important software company." (Hmm ... What is the reason?) They tell you that your computer is sending error messages to them through the Web, and they have detected a virus. No problem, though: all you have to do is pay them a fee and they will remotely fix your computer by installing anti-virus software.
Once the caller has your credit card number and access to your computer, they do not eliminate viruses, however, they install them.
In October, the Federal Trade Commission cracked down on a similar scam that charged computer users $ 49 to $ 450 to "remove" the malware from their computers. The agency estimated that "tens of thousands" of computer users fell prey to that scam.
The way to overcome these scams is quite simple: do not give strangers your credit card numbers or access to your computer. But let's look at eight additional ways you can protect yourself from viruses and malware:
1. Keep your software updated
Software vendors such as Microsoft and Oracle routinely update their software to correct errors that could potentially be exploited by hackers. Oracle just released an update on its Java software on Sunday to fix a security hole that hackers could have used to infect computers with malware.
The software patch came after the Department of Homeland Security sent a notice last week about the security flaw that recommended computer users to disable the Java plug-in in their web browsers.
2. Do not click on links within emails
A good rule of thumb is that if you do not recognize a sender of an email, do not click on any link within it. Microsoft says that 44.8 percent of Windows virus infections occur because the computer user clicked something.
3. Use free antivirus software
You do not have to pay for the software to protect your computer or for an annual subscription to maintain the latest virus protection. For Windows users, Microsoft Security Essentials is free. Avast is another free antivirus program.
See our history Antivirus software is a waste of money to get more ideas.
4. Make a backup copy of your computer
Do you back up the information on your computer regularly? If it does not, and 29 percent of computer users fall into that category, it has no protection against calamities ranging from hard drive failure to burning your home. If you value your data, make a backup.
It has three basic backup options: an external hard drive, an online backup service or cloud storage. Use a service like Google Drive and your files will be continuously backed up in the cloud. And the price is right: free up to 5 GB of data. For more information, see the online storage wars: what virtual storage is best?
5. Use a secure password
A secure password is one that is complex, with a combination of letters, numbers and symbols. While some people use the same password for everything, try to avoid that practice.
The password security company SplashData.com says that the three most common passwords are the password, 123456 and 12345678. The company recommends avoiding the use of the same username /password combination for multiple logins on the online site .
When creating a password, use eight characters or more and, to make them easier to remember, try using short phrases separated by spaces or underscore marks, such as "car_park_city?"
The best idea? Use a free service like LastPass to create and manage your passwords. You should only remember one password: the one that opens your LastPass vault. Once you have opened it, LastPass will automatically start it on each site you visit that requires a password. It's really useful, check it out.
6. Use a firewall
The fact that you have running antivirus software does not mean you have a firewall. Both PCs and Macs come with built-in firewall software. Be sure to verify that it is enabled.
7. Minimize downloads
Make sure that the security settings of your web browser are high enough to detect unauthorized downloads. For Internet Explorer, the average security configuration is the minimum level to use.
8. Use a pop-up blocker
Web browsers have the ability to stop vent
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