The online world is full of amazing downloads to consider, from music to games to software that makes our lives easier. On the other hand, the internet is also full of malicious software or malware and when you download a new free game, you might also be downloading a virus or other nasty bit of malware. To keep safe, consider taking the following precautions.
It is important, first of all, to never download anything unless you trust the source. For some items, such as music from iTunes or downloads from companies such as Microsoft, you are probably very secure. However, other websites are less well known and possibly less secure. If the site is unknown to you, do some research and see if other people have downloaded items safely from this source.
Every file that you download has a file extension at the end, such as .jpeg or .gif. Looking at the file extension before you download can be a good idea because many extensions tend to be used specifically for malware. Be wary of extensions like pif, doc, exe, scr and bat, but truly any file can be corrupted with a virus or other malicious programs, so scan it first before you download.
You might not realize it, but when you receive links in emails from friends or associates, these could potentially contain a virus or other malware. Often they are disguised as links to a funny video or an outrageous news story. It might appear to come from a trustworthy source, such as major news organization. However, if you hover over the link (without clicking on it) and look at the bottom of your browser screen, you will see its true location. What looks like it came from CNN or YouTube might come from a malicious site that is trying to hack into your PC.
Another common problem occurs when people attempt to download copyrighted items such as music or movies from sites illegally. If you cannot find a song, movie or book from a legitimate source such as iTunes or Amazon, other sites often sell them illegally. However, not only is the buyer violating copyright law, the seller might be including a virus along with your download.
If your PC does become infected, removing the malware can be tricky and time-consuming, so it's often easier to simply call in a Portland computer repair expert to handle the job for you. GeeksAKnockin', for instance, offers computer support in Portland, computer support in Hillsboro, computer support in Gresham, computer repair in Beaverton and throughout the Portland area.
It is important, first of all, to never download anything unless you trust the source. For some items, such as music from iTunes or downloads from companies such as Microsoft, you are probably very secure. However, other websites are less well known and possibly less secure. If the site is unknown to you, do some research and see if other people have downloaded items safely from this source.
Every file that you download has a file extension at the end, such as .jpeg or .gif. Looking at the file extension before you download can be a good idea because many extensions tend to be used specifically for malware. Be wary of extensions like pif, doc, exe, scr and bat, but truly any file can be corrupted with a virus or other malicious programs, so scan it first before you download.
You might not realize it, but when you receive links in emails from friends or associates, these could potentially contain a virus or other malware. Often they are disguised as links to a funny video or an outrageous news story. It might appear to come from a trustworthy source, such as major news organization. However, if you hover over the link (without clicking on it) and look at the bottom of your browser screen, you will see its true location. What looks like it came from CNN or YouTube might come from a malicious site that is trying to hack into your PC.
Another common problem occurs when people attempt to download copyrighted items such as music or movies from sites illegally. If you cannot find a song, movie or book from a legitimate source such as iTunes or Amazon, other sites often sell them illegally. However, not only is the buyer violating copyright law, the seller might be including a virus along with your download.
If your PC does become infected, removing the malware can be tricky and time-consuming, so it's often easier to simply call in a Portland computer repair expert to handle the job for you. GeeksAKnockin', for instance, offers computer support in Portland, computer support in Hillsboro, computer support in Gresham, computer repair in Beaverton and throughout the Portland area.
About the Author:
Frankline Bell enjoys blogging reviews on computer repairs and support companies. To get further information about the best computer repair Hillsboro Oregon professionals or to find out more about Portland computer repair services, please go to the GeeksAKnockin.com site today.
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