5 Tips to Prevent a Computer Virus Infection

Computer viruses have been designed to cause damage to your computer, server, network, or simply steal sensitive information from your computer like credit card numbers, passwords, or files. Luckily, there are certain steps you can follow to prevent an infection. 

#1. Don’t Trust it

Most of the viruses are sent to recipients by email as attachments or clickable links that download the virus to your computer, once you open it, it will get infected. Don’t open any email attachment if you don’t know the sender or if the attached file ends in .pif or .scr or any similar extensions are probably viruses. 

#2. Install an Antivirus Software

There are hundreds of Antivirus on the market, some of them can be free such as AVG, Avast, and Avira or you can choose from those that required a subscription McAfee, Zone Alarm or Norton. The features and protection services might change from antivirus to antivirus software. HughesNet Gen 5 offers an optional service through Norton by Symantec for its customers in which you can protect up to 5 devices for $4.99 or up to 10 devices for $5.99 a month. Click here to get more information about this additional service. 

#3. Keep your Antivirus up to date 

Having an antivirus software is only the first step, maintaining the antivirus up to date is really important as new viruses are being released every day. In order to update your antivirus, you will need a stable internet connection. HughesNet Gen5 gives you an extra 50GB (Bonus Zone) totally free. This extra 50GB can be used to download large files or update your Antivirus, the bonus zone is automatically activated from 2:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. Some antivirus software will allow you to schedule your updates as well as scans. 

#4. Avoid downloading free games

Free games usually are installed by unzipping a folder or package, you don’t only install a game but a virus on your computer. Some viruses can just slow your computer down or pop random windows or ads on your screen. Most of them can be easily removed just by a quick scan with your antivirus program. We recommend you play games online instead of downloading them, you can play single user games on Facebook like Candy Crush Saga. 

#5. Don’t use open Wi-Fi

If you have a laptop and you go to the library or coffee shop and connect it to their free network, be aware everybody can access the same way you did without a password and infect the network. Always connect your laptop to encrypted Wi-Fi networks to prevent a computer virus infection.