Device security
How to protect your computer from viruses
A computer virus is a type of malware (software that damages, disrupts or allows access to your device), which multiplies by inserting copies of itself (possibly modified) into the device's programs, data files, or a part of the hard drive.
Viruses often cause some type of harmful activity, like accessing private information, corrupting data, displaying messages on your screen, ‘spamming’ your contacts, or recording your keystrokes so they can steal passwords and other private data.
Not all viruses perform malicious activity or attempt to hide themselves. The defining characteristic of viruses is that they are self-replicating device programs that install themselves without your consent.
Top tips
- Back up your files: It’s important to back up the data on your device regularly, either with an external hard drive or ‘cloud storage’, because, if a virus hits, you could lose everything
- Scan for viruses: It’s also a good idea to carry out virus scans on a regular basis, even if you think that there is nothing wrong with your device, there may be something hiding there that you’re unaware of.
Some devices have anti-virus software built in, but sometimes you need to install the anti-virus software yourself. There are some free anti-virus scans available, and some that you have to pay for, do your research and choose the option that’s best for your needs. It’s important to make sure that each user profile on your device has anti-virus software installed.