Most common questions used to investigate
Have you installed antivirus software in your system?
Is your antivirus up to date?
Have you clicked on any unknown link?
Is your operating system current?
Is your network secure?
Do you use unknown USB devices?
Common conclusions
An antivirus software is deemed to be the first line of defense against any virus or other malicious programs that hackers may try to insert in your system. This software protects you against such malicious files by identifying them and notifying you about them, so you can run the tool and eliminate it from your system before these files can steal any information from you. There are many antivirus software available today, so do your research and pick the one that works best for you.
Installing antivirus software is just one part of the job, but updating it often is what makes it truly useful. Essentially, you have to update the database to ensure that all the latest virus files are captured in its definition because the software will use this definition to identify malicious files. Ideally, run this definition once every week. This is a background process that will not impact your work in any way.
One of the sure-shot ways hackers use to insert malicious code in your system is through unknown links. Essentially, what they do is that they send a link with an attractive offer, and when you click that link to claim the offer, they download a small file to your personal computer. Eventually, this file will capture all the stored passwords and send them back to the hacker. Everything will run in the background, and you won't even know what's going on. But all your private information, including your browsing history, will reach the hacker, and he or she will use it against you.
Microsoft sends patches from time to time to correct the possible security vulnerabilities that may be present in it. Your job is to download these patches and install them, so all the exposures are covered. This way, the chances for any loopholes in the operating system will be minimal.
If you're connecting to a network, check if that is secure. Ideally, stay away from connecting to unsecured hotspots and Wi-Fis because hackers can use this unsecured network to send unwanted malicious files to your system. This is why it's important to connect only to secure, and trusted networks that you know have a security layer in them.
If you don't know the source of a USB storage device, refrain from connecting it to your system as it can be used to infect your computer. Either put them on an old computer and not used them anymore or discard them.
Great! Also, use good sense to stave away from virus attacks.
References
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