Methods that guarantee a computer or network is safe from computer viruses, worms and trojan horses simply do not exist. Users can take several precautions, however to protect their home and work computers from these malicious infections. The precautionary measures are:

1. Never start a computer with a floppy disk in drive A; unless it is an uninfected recovery disk.

2. Set the macro security in programs so you can enable and disable macros. Only enable macros if the document is from a trusted source and you are expecting it.

3. Install an antivirus program on all of your computers. Obtain updates to the antivirus signature files on a regular basis.

4. Check all downloaded programs for viruses, worms, or trojan horses. These malicious-logic programs often are placed in seemingly innocent programs, so they will affect a large number of users.

5. Never open an e-mail attachment unless you are expecting it and it is from a trusted source. Scan for viruses in all e-mail attachments you intend to open. Turn off message preview.

6.Write-protect your recovery disk by sliding the write-protect tab into the write-protect position.

7.If the antivirus program flags an e-mail attachment is infected, delete the attachment immediately.

8. Before using any floppy disk or zip disk, use the antivirus scan program to check the disk for infection. Incorporate this procedure even for shrink-wrapped software from major developers. Some commercial software has been infected and distributed to unsuspecting users this way.

9. Back up your files regularly. Scan the backup program before backing up disks and files to ensure the backup program is virus free.

About the Author
Bob J. Valkovski is a freelance author about computer basics. http://www.for-the-touchdown.com/pc_security_new.htm