The growth of the Internet and the use of e-mail have dramatically increased the variety and spread of viruses. When PC viruses first began to spread in the 1980s they were written in assembler code and could only infect program files. In the 1990s macro languages (for Microsoft Word, Excel and Access) provided an easier alternative and resulted in the ability to also infect data files. Currently writers of virus programs are also making use of the capabilities of Visual Basic, Active X and Java to write viruses that can be embedded in web pages and e-mail messages. The greatest number of prolific viruses damaging computing communities world wide have been written to attack the Microsoft Windows operating systems and other Microsoft applications such as the Office suite. One of the major reasons for this concentration is the large market share that Microsoft holds in the computing world. Being such a large target is enticing to virus authors since they know that they may be able to affect the greatest number of computers.
Windows Operating Systems
This large market share is clearly represented at Knox. PCs running one of the Windows operating systems make up the largest percentage of computers on the Knox campus. Due to this fact and the fact that Windows based viruses are so common, it is absolutely imperative that all of these computers are properly updated and protected (see the AntiVirus Policy). In the event that an unprotected computer is infected, Knox will take the appropriate actions to isolate the computer until the problem has been resolved.
Macintosh Operating Systems
Although some of the most well known and damaging viruses will not damage or infect a Macintosh computer, they are still susceptible to certain viruses. Cross-platform viruses, referred to as macro viruses, affect your Microsoft Office documents regardless of platform. Also, Macintoshes running a Windows partition are open to any/all Windows based viruses on that partition. Since it is more likely that a Macintosh virus may go undetected for a longer period of time by the campus network, it is imperative that Macintosh users protect themselves and their data by keeping their machines properly updated and protected (see the AntiVirus Policy). In the event that an unprotected computer is infected, Knox will take the appropriate actions to isolate the computer until the problem has been resolved.
Operating System Updates
Additionally, many viruses and worms take advantage of identified vulnerabilities within operating systems. Microsoft and Apple release patches to fix these known problems on a regular basis but many users neglect to install them. These patches are distributed through Windows Update on Windows and Software Update on Macintosh. Unlike many e-mail borne viruses requiring the user to open an attachment, many of the operating system exploit viruses infect vulnerable machines by simply connecting to the Internet. Microsoft Windows computers are required to install all critical updates issued by Microsoft as they become available. Please note that the latest service packs are included in the required critical updates. Macintosh computers are required to install all security updates issued by Apple.
Other Operating Systems
As other operating systems such as LINUX, BeOS and the like have come on the scene, they have become a target for some well written virus-like programs. Due to the nature of many of these operating systems, there are some basic operation management policies that may cut down on vulnerabilities. Nonetheless, as these operating systems emerge and become more appealing for sophisticated virus authors, it is becoming more important that users of these operating systems understand how to patch holes, update files and generally "guard" their systems. Since it is more likely that a virus may go undetected for a longer period of time by the campus network, it is imperative that these OS users protect themselves and their data by keeping their machines properly updated and protected (see the AntiVirus Policy). In the event that an unprotected computer is infected, Knox will take the appropriate actions to isolate the computer until the problem has been resolved.
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This article is about ways to protect your PC from viruses that can screw up your computer, or allow criminals to steal your data, personal information, or money.
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Use an anti-malware app - Installing an anti-malware app and keeping it up to date can help defend your PC against viruses and other malware (malicious software).
Microsoft Defender is free anti-malware software included with Windows, and it's kept updated automatically through Windows Update. There are also anti-malware products made by other companies that you can choose from.
More isn't always better
Running multiple anti-malware apps at the same time can cause your system to be slow or unstable. If you install an anti-malware app from a different company, Microsoft Defender will automatically turn itself off. If you install two anti-malware apps from other companies, however, they might both try to run at the same time.
Don't open email messages from unfamiliar senders, or email attachments that you don't recognize - Many viruses are attached to email messages and will spread as soon as you open the attachment. It's best not to open any attachment unless it's something you're expecting. For more information see: Protect yourself from phishing.
Use a pop-up blocker with your internet browser - Pop-up windows are small browser windows that appear on top of the website you're viewing. Although most are created by advertisers, they can also contain malicious or unsafe code. A pop-up blocker can prevent some or all of these windows from appearing. The pop-up blocker in Microsoft Edge is turned on by default.
If you're using Microsoft Edge, make sure SmartScreen is turned on - SmartScreen in Microsoft Edge helps protect you from phishing and malware attacks by warning you if a website or download location has been reported as unsafe. For more info, see How can SmartScreen help protect me in Microsoft Edge?
Pay attention to Windows SmartScreen notifications - Be cautious about running unrecognized apps downloaded from the Internet. Unrecognized apps are more likely to be unsafe. When you download and run an app from the internet, SmartScreen uses info about the app's reputation to warn you if the app isn't well-known and might be malicious.
Keep Windows updated - Periodically, Microsoft releases special security updates that can help protect your PC. These updates can help prevent viruses and other malware attacks by closing possible security holes.
Windows Update helps to make sure that your PC receives these updates automatically, but you may still have to restart your machine occasionally for the updates to install completely.
Use your internet browser's privacy settings - Some websites might try to use your personal info for targeted advertising, fraud, and identity theft. All modern browsers have privacy settings that you can enable to control what sites can see or do.
For more information about configuring the privacy settings in Microsoft Edge see Configure your privacy settings so they're right for you.
Make sure User Account Control (UAC) is turned on - When changes are going to be made to your PC that require administrator-level permission, UAC notifies you and gives you the chance to approve the change. UAC can help keep viruses from making unwanted changes. To open UAC, swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search. (If you're using a mouse, point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, and then click Search.) Enter uac in the search box, and then tap or click Change User Account Control settings.
Make sure that Tamper Protection is turned on - In Windows 10 and 11 we have a feature called Tamper Protection that prevents unauthorized apps from changing your security settings. Many viruses and malware try to disable anti-malware software or other security settings when they're installed in order to evade detection. See Prevent changes to security settings with Tamper Protection for information on how to confirm that it's turned on.
If you use more than one antivirus or antispyware program at the same time, your PC may experience decreased performance, become unstable, or restart unexpectedly.
Caution: When you remove your currently installed Internet security programs, your PC is in an unprotected state. If you haven't installed another antimalware program make sure that Microsoft Defender Antivirus is enabled, and that Windows Firewall is turned on.
To uninstall unwanted antimalware software:
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Go to Start > Settings > Apps
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Find the unwanted app or apps and select it
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Select Uninstall
Your machine will likely need to reboot after each app is uninstalled.
Note: Some security software may not uninstall completely. If you're unable to fully uninstall an app, go to the publisher's website or contact their technical support line for help.
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