If your computer is…
- SLOW in loading programs, ‘thinking’
- FREEZING or not opening programs properly
- displaying POP UPs alerting you of a danger
You might have a virus or other malicious computer program on your computer (malware).
BUT… Don’t panic yet.
We are often able to clean them off and recover your data.
Prevention of Computer Viruses is best. Prep your computer today.
- Install a quality antivirus program such as Avast Business Cloudcare (an excellent protective software Saunders IT recommend and sell –Call Us to buy now).
- Avast offer a free version for home users getting started. You can download the free version here.
- Be mindful and use commonsense when opening emails or downloading attachments. If you don’t recognise the website or sender, then mark as spam or close the tab.
Business Grade Protection at an Affordable Price
If you run a business or have a home office it is strongly recommended you obtain a premium antivirus software. We are proud partners of Avast Business Cloudcare for a reason – it offers very comprehensive protection against viruses, malware, phishing, adware and other malicious software. We can install it remotely for you – with your permission of course – so all you have to do is Call Us today and we can set it up immediately.
**Please note: Microsoft Defender and other built in Antivirus or malware programs are not as robust as products available from companies that specialise in Antivirus and Anti Malware programs.
What is a computer virus?
Computer viruses can spread by opening infected.
- email attachments,
- downloading infected files and
- clicking on malicious links.
- A USB stick may also transfer infected data from one computer to another via opening a file saved on it.
Computer viruses can be self-replicating — capable of copying themselves across files or other computers without a user’s consent.
Always download files and programs from the original source site where possible.
For instance, if you wanted to download Avast Free antivirus, go to www.avast.com NOT a third party such as www.somecompany.com/avast. Often, other sources have only a slight difference in name to the main company and might appear on google before the source site like www.getavastnow.com.
Visit reputable websites.
Certain gaming, get rich quick and pornography sites are common offenders for transmitting viruses. Less obvious are sites that don’t have a security certificate installed. Look for https:// in the website address bar e.g. https://saundersit.com.au.
DON’T ever let a telemarketer on your computer
Unfortunately, it is very common for local and foreign scammers to contact Australians by telephone or webchat, often purporting to be from Microsoft or Telstra or any other reputable organisation. A usual scenario is when one spouse passes the phone to the other or is distracted by another activity and thus allows the scammer access to their computer – they click and grant permission. The scammer may install worms and other software to access your data and even your banking details.
If you do get a virus or engage with a scammer….
Back Up your data, if at all possible, to do so on a USB stick or DVD or external drive. Do this before you run your antivirus program. Saunders IT have access to a professional range of virus and malware removal tools and may be able to clean your data. Sometimes the operating system files are corrupted, and the computer needs to be reformatted. It is always smart to expect viruses are just part of life such as flat car tires and if you keep a list of your software licenses and a backup of your files, the event will be a mere inconvenience rather than a wipe out.
Call Us to Book your Virus Removal service now.
