Here are some tips for protecting yourself against future virus and scam attacks. Some of them you already know, but it's good to review:

• Do not to open attachments unless you're expecting them. If in doubt, call the sender on the phone and ask if they really sent it.
• Scan all downloads for viruses before opening and running them. If you have Norton Antivirus or McAfee Virus Scan, this is done automatically.
• Keep Windows patched with the latest security updates; if possible, set up automatic updates. Simply visiting a website can cause infection if certain patches are not installed.
• Use difficult-to-guess passwords that include numbers and both capital and lowercase letters.
• Frequently check the security advisories provided by the makers of antivirus software to find out what the latest threats are. An excellent one is the Security Advisories list from Symantec.

Moving On

In this lesson, you learned about the various types of virus threats and how antivirus software works to combat them. You also learned about some things you can do to minimize your virus risk. Complete the lesson by doing the assignment and taking the quiz, and then checking in on the Message Board to see what your instructor and fellow students are up to.

In Lesson 5, you'll learn about several utilities in Windows that can improve how your system functions.