In this short article I'll teach you how most viruses infect your computer. With this knowledge you'll be able to prevent getting the virus in the first place. However, sometimes you just can't stop them, so this article will also teach you how to rid of them if you do catch one.

First off, I'd like to say, I have a Apple Mac computer. I've never had a virus (well, once and it's a funny story - suffice to say I never did harm, I think it was a joke virus back in the 90's). With my Mac, I download as I please, open e-mails as I please. I stay away from sites that could contain malware - just in case. But basically I'm home free when it comes to viruses. And there are a few reasons why this is true.

But if you're working with a PC then you should be on the look out for things that will infect your computer. There are a few basic ways in which viruses are transfered. And they all follow one basic principle - the transfer of data (or the transfer of the virus). Viruses can come from e-mail attachments, from websites that ask you to download things, from MP3's or movie files (especially pirated ones), or even from disks, data DVD's, data CD's or even infected SD cards or flash USB cards.

With regards to the last items, disks and portable storage devices - the thing that will keep you safe is to know the source of where that disk has been. Public computers are havens for viruses. So if you're disk is going to touch your local library computer, I would highly recommend some good virus protection like Norton Anti Virus or AGV (which has a free download). Please, please get this stuff installed before you get the virus. It's a lot easier to prevent the virus then to get rid of the virus you caught. Not to mention, the virus could make way with stolen passwords and other critical information before you know it.

With regards to e-mails and downloads from the Internet, you've got to use your common sense. If you ever receive an e-mail that directs you to open the attachment because it contains important information about your account then it's probably a virus. These hackers try to make their e-mails look legit by sending them from banks (all banks - eventually they will send one from yours), from the post office or fed ex, from collection agencies, from even your friends sometimes! The friend one is a bit hard to confirm as a virus or not. But the easiest way to tell is just ask your buddy if they just sent you something. Often the message will look like your friend sent you a message with a document that they want you to look over before they send it off to whoever. Sometimes this friend could even be a supposed colleague sending you an attachment to look at. Unless you're expecting something, just ask them what they are sending you - this should keep you virus free from e-mails.

With regards to websites or downloads that can give you viruses, the advice is simple - be VERY careful. MP3's are riddled with viruses as are movies. I've had one PC in my life and it was setup as a movie watching computer. I only ever rented movies and put in the legit DVD's into the player - you'll never have to worry about viruses that way. However, last year we had a party and some of my friends wanted to stream some movies over the internet - within one night of them watching all sorts of streamed movies the computer was filled with all sorts of nasty viruses and trojans. My friends did not download anything specific that was harmful, they just watched innocent movies that contained viruses. The final solution for that computer was to totally erase it and pass it along to a friend that needed a computer. I was done with viruses!

So that's it, be careful what you open on your computer. If you are expecting something, then by all means open it. But be careful what websites you visit and what you let download. It's a good idea to have some sort of virus protection on your computer to identify viruses before you download them. But most importantly - be smart with how you surf the web. There is no get rich quick scheme that if you click here to download will save you're life from debt.