Computer, how to avoid viruses and what to do with the infected PC

Some tips on how to try to avoid getting a virus on your computer, even using the native and free tools of the operating system. Also, what can you do when you suspect a virus has infected your computer.

Prevention is better than cure. This applies to many things, even in the field of protecting your computer from viruses. And several people agree, but not all. There are those who would like to have maximum protection on their personal computer but are not willing to spend a penny to purchase antivirus software, expecting to have everything for free. We know they exist free antivirus software for the computer but then you shouldn’t get angry if, unfortunately, the device still gets infected due to an attachment received by e-mail or from having ended up on a counterfeit website.

If in one day experts manage to find a dozen new types of viruses, for example, in the meantime just as many have been born and are in circulation to infect computers. In this article we will not promote one antivirus over another, also because even the most advanced and expensive software may not be able to block a powerful virus. We will rather advise what to do to try to avoid getting a virus on your computer and how use the tools that the operating system makes available natively, as well as to what you can do when you suspect a virus has infected your computer.

Tips and software to protect/clean your computer from viruses

We believe that pay attention to the attachments and links you receive in your email and the websites you visit combined with the security tools integrated into the web browser (Chrome in particular) and the operating system are sufficient to keep your computer safe.
Without needing to install free antivirus software such as those of Avast, AVG, Avira or Panda. If you want to rely on free software, it is worth relying on ‘Windows Security‘ integrated into Windows, while security systems integrated into macOS on Apple MACs. However, it is another matter for advanced users who prefer advanced security: the advice is to rely on paid antivirus software such as those of Norton, Bitdefender, Avast, AVG And Kaspersky among others that can be found. If they have existed for years despite being paid, it should mean that they work, right?

Be that as it may, in addition to using browsers that offer built-in security tools such as Google Chrome before visiting a website you have never visited before it could be useful check if it is a secure page. As? By copying the web address of the page (without having accessed it yet) and pasting it into the search bar of the free online tool ‘Norton Safeweb‘ (safeweb.norton.com). By doing so it is possible to check whether the page of interest is safe according to the ratings and reviews of the Norton community. Not absolute security but better than nothing.
Another tip is avoid clicking links in emails received, unless you are waiting for a specific email. Emails they didn’t expect, which invite them to ‘click here‘ for a prize won or which are frightening could be attempts to phishing.

Solutions integrated into Windows and MacOS

Windows users, both versions 10 and 11, have the free software available ‘Security for Windows‘ which not only protects your computer by preventing possible virus infections but also allows you to clean your computer from any infected files. The software is accessible by entering Start/Windowsthen Settings and then ‘Privacy and security‘. Once the app is open’Security for Windows‘ you can find information on virus and threat protection, firewall and network protection as well as control of installed apps and browsers as well as devices. If the software has detected problems, it provides support to try to resolve them.
Microsoft 365 subscribers can access advanced security tools through the software Microsoft Defenderwhich we have already talked about in recent weeks.

Regarding the environment macOS on Apple MACs, security here is offered by antivirus technology XProtect of the Cupertino company integrated into its operating system, which detects, and possibly eliminates, malware infections and alterations. More information about Apple’s XProtect can be found on the official web page at support.apple.com/it-it/guide/security/sec469d47bd8/web.

The final solution: formatting your computer

There PC formatting it is the thing that we would like to avoid but which is inevitable when the antivirus we have installed fails to remove a virus or manages to remove it but in us there is still that feeling that the computer is not yet in order. All personal files are lost, unless you rely on a cloud service, but at least you can go back to using a clean computer. It’s a good idea to go beyond simply reinstalling Windows and proceed with the resetting the operating system by performing a clean install of Windows. We have already explained how to do it in a previous article, which we invite you to read here. In short, just press the button Start/Windowsthen enter Settingsthen again in Update and securityto select RestorationThen Reset your PCThen Start And Remove everything.