“No matter what I do, it seems impossible to protect my computer from viruses and spyware. I have so many viruses my computer is slowing down and some programs have stopped working correctly, while others are now refusing to work at all. Why does this happen and what can I do to prevent this?”

-- Ryan C.

Spyware, malware and other dangerous computer viruses run rampant on the Internet and if you are not careful they can cripple your entire computer and even put your personal information in serious jeopardy. There are many common ways a person can run across a computer virus, two of the most common are downloading from and visiting questionable websites.

Using 3rd party downloading software (limewire, frostwire, mp3 rocket, etc.) or downloading from questionable sources, like torrents or peer 2 peer, for illegal music, games, programs or movies is one of the most common ways to harm your computer. Downloaded files can contain hidden spyware or malicious files and are often unchecked and go unmaintained. These downloading methods often rely on sharing between several computers, making the problem two-fold and allowing the files to spread rampantly and become virtually uncontrollable.

Visiting questionable websites is also a leading cause for viruses. Websites containing spyware or malware will usually entice people in with unbelievable deals, free media or mature content. Remember, if it looks too good to be true then it probably is. If you happen to visit these websites be sure not to download any unprovoked files or respond to any “error” messages, as they will usually be a disguised virus. Your best bet is avoiding these sort of websites altogether. Also, be careful when entering personal information on the Internet. Most browsers feature a “secured” icon, usually a padlock, on websites containing personal data. If you are having second thoughts when typing in this sort of info, look for this icon. If you don’t see it, don’t enter any data you would not comfortable sharing.

The Internet is full of malicious websites ready to bring your computer to its knees. However, there are also plenty of ways to protect your computer and prevent these situations from happening again. Just like we need to protect ourselves from disease and sickness, we should take the necessary steps to defend our computers from harmful viruses. Most operating systems usually include a decent amount of virus protection. Make sure your firewall is up and running properly and your computer is continually scanning for dangerous content. There are also many popular virus defense systems available for sale that can both defend your computer and remove many common issues if an incident were to occur. Many of these programs also offer free trials of their software on their websites. Do your research, defend your computer and protect yourself out there.