Tips on how to prevent computer worms?

Last Updated on 2 years by Touhid

Computer worms is a type of malicious software or program that spreads within its connected network and copies itself from one computer to another computer. In this article, we will discuss important tips on how to prevent computer worms.

It exploits the security holes of the software application and trying to access in order to damage sensitive information, corrupting files and installing software for remote access to the system.

How to Prevent Computer Worms

These are some preventive measures which can protect your computer, network, and safe from computer worms. The basic tips for how to prevent computer worms and virus are as follows:

1. Install good Anti-virus Software

Antivirus software is the first preventive measure on how to prevent computer worms and virus. It is a program that helps protect your computer against viruses, worms, trojan horses, and malware. It scans every file to your computer and helps to prevent damage to your computer system.

Most of the people are using free anti-virus software or using the following windows security software, which are not bad but they are inefficient in safeguarding your computer.

You can use one of the following anti-virus software  to prevent computer worms and virus and keep updated with latest version.

• Bitdefender
• Norton
• Kaspersky
• Panda
• ESET
• Avast
• AVG 

2. Don’t Download Suspicious Email Attachments

When you will receive an email with an attachment file from unknown source, which may be suspicious e-mail. The attachment file can contain malicious script, if you download and open the file then malware will execute and infect on your computer.

Tips

Don’t download the suspicious email attachments or documents to prevent from computer worms.

3. Never Download Software from Unreliable Websites

Viruses are hidden in the files or programs and it will enter your computer whenever you download the software, apps and other content from unknown sites.

Cyber security expert recommended that download the applications and software’s only from trusted sites but our common habit is that, we are downloading the software without checking the site is reliable or not.

Tips

So, don’t download the software from insecure websites because insecure sites contains malicious software to compromise your sensitive data.

4. Keep All Software Updated

You have to ensure that your all used software is updated with latest version. The main purpose of downloading and installing the updated version software is stay protected from computer virus and worms.

Old version software may have security holes in source code and when a updated version of software is released, the new version usually includes fixes for those types of security vulnerabilities.

5. Never Open Suspicious Email Attachments

Whenever you download the email attachment with extension .exe, vbs, shs, pif, cmd etc. so, there has a chance to infect virus on your computer. For your kind information, these types of extensions are never used in normal file attachments but they are frequently used by viruses and worms.

Some others attachments may contain an executable code with double extension like hi.doc.exe or name.txt.vbs and if you open such types of files, then virus will infect into your system.

Tips

So, it is better to check the file extension before you download and scan the attachment file.

6. Regularly Backup your Important Files

A data backup is a process copying or archiving important data files and documents for the purpose of being able to restore data in case if your computer is infected with a virus or malware.

It is the easiest way to recover your data files from backup storage when data has been lost by computer virus, worms or cyber threats.

Tips

You can take regular data back-up manually or automatically by archiving important documents to an external hard drive or your suitable place.

 7. Regular Scan your Computer

One of the easiest and best ways for how to prevent computer worms and virus is regularly scanning your computer with antivirus software. When you have installed anti-virus software, you should first scan your entire computer. If your installed anti-virus has the ability to automatically scan files or directories so, enable this feature with your suitable time.

Tips

It is better complete a full scan every two weeks or a single full scan per month . A full scan takes several hours, depending on how much data you have in your computer.

8. Use a Firewall

A firewall is a security tools which is designed to monitors incoming and outgoing network traffic based on security rules and protects your system. Its main purpose is to create an obstacle between internal and external network in order to protect cyber threats.

If your computer ports are open, then a malicious script can sent by an attacker and gain unauthorized access. A windows firewall can acts as a simple defence by closing all ports.

Tips

• In Windows operating system, this can be found by navigating to:
  • First, Choose Start→ Control Panel→ System and Security→ Windows Firewall.
  • Then, click the Turn Windows Firewall On or off link in the left pane of the window.
  • Select the Turn on Windows Firewall radio button for one or both of the network locations.
  • And Click OK.
• You also can use a web application Firewall to protect your software application form cyber threats.

9. Use SSL Certificate

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is a global standard web security protocol which creates a secure connection between a website and browser. SSL ensure that all data passed between a web server and browser remains encrypted and secure. This encryption technique prevents from hackers to stealing sensitive information such as credit card details, names and addresses.

In case, if a site is secure by SSL then a padlock is displayed or the address bar shows the URL as HTTPS instead of HTTP.

10. Avoid Unsolicited Email

If you receive e-mail advertisements or other unsolicited e-mail, so there can be a malicious script or link to infect into your computer. If you click on that link, then it will redirect to you a vulnerable website to steal your information.

Tips

• It is suggested to you, do not open unsolicited e-mail attachments or don’t click on that link.
• You also should avoid attachments with sexual filenames because worms often use attachments with sexual filenames such as PORNO.EXE or PAMELA_NUDE.VBS to enticement users.

How to Remove Computer Worms

To remove a computer worm, simply install antivirus software and run a scan for computer virus and worms. Once viruses and worms are detected then it will deleted by antivirus. So your computer will be completely safe to use.

Finally, use antivirus software and keep updated in order to protect from computer worms. We have discussed the important tips on how to prevent computer worms. Hope the article will be helpful for you!.