9 Ways to Protect Windows 8 Systems from Viruses

9 Ways to Protect Windows 8 Systems from Viruses:

1. Do not open emails from unfamiliar senders or unrecognized email attachments . Many viruses are attached to emails and spread when you open attachments. Therefore, it is best not to open any attachments unless the attachment is required. Www.xitonghome.com

Use pop-up blockers in Internet browsers. A pop-up window is a small browser window that appears on the website you are viewing. Although most pop-ups are created by advertisers, they may also contain malicious or unsafe code. Pop-up blockers can block the appearance of some or all of these windows.

In Windows Internet Explorer, pop-up blockers are enabled by default. SmartScreen filters can also help identify potentially malicious websites and known malware.

2. Use anti-malware applications. Installing and keeping anti-malware apps up-to-date helps protect your computer against viruses and other malware. Anti-malware apps scan for viruses, spyware, and other malware that attempt to enter email, operating system, or files. New threats can occur every day, so check the anti-malware manufacturer's website frequently for updates.

Windows Defender is a free anti-malware that comes with Windows, which you can update automatically with Windows Update. You can visit the Windows Store and find an antivirus app. You can also visit the Windows 8 Compatibility Center to find anti-virus apps for Windows 8.

3. Make sure the SmartScreen filter in Internet Explorer 10 is enabled. The SmartScreen filter in Internet Explorer alerts you when a website or download location is reported as unsafe, protecting you from phishing and malware attacks.

4. Please note the Windows SmartScreen notification. Be careful when running unrecognized apps downloaded from the Internet. Unrecognized apps are most likely not safe. When you download and run an app from the Internet, SmartScreen uses a reputation information about the app to warn you that if the app is not known, it can be malicious.

5. Keep Windows up to date. Microsoft periodically releases special security updates that help protect your computer. These updates help protect against viruses and other malware attacks by patching possible security vulnerabilities.

Enabling Windows Update ensures that Windows automatically receives these updates. To learn how, see Windows Automatic Updates: Frequently Asked Questions.

6. Use a firewall. If a virus or worm tries to connect to your computer, Windows Firewall or any other firewall application will notify you of suspicious activity. It also prevents viruses, worms, and hackers from downloading potentially harmful apps to your computer.

To learn more about Windows Firewall, see What are the risks of allowing apps to pass through a firewall?

7. Use your Internet browser's privacy settings. Knowing how your site might use your private information is important to help prevent targeted advertising, fraud, and identity theft.

If you're using Internet Explorer, you can adjust your privacy settings or restore your default settings whenever you want.

8. Clear your Internet cache and browsing history. Most browsers store information about the websites you visit, and may store information that the website asks for you (such as your name and address). Although it may be useful to store these details on your computer, in some cases, such as when you use a public computer and do not want to leave personal information, it is best to delete some or all of the information.

9. Enable User Account Control (UAC). If you want to make changes to your computer that require administrator-level permissions, UAC will notify you and prompt you to confirm the changes. UAC helps prevent viruses from making malicious changes.