AVG
ANTIVIRUS  SOFTWARE
 is the global leader in virus prevention, detection and removal.  AVG protects against viruses that Norton and McAfee do not even detect !    AVG software is absolutely free for any personal computer, anywhere.  After download and installation, follow AVG's help screen recommendations to provide the most comprehensive protection against accidental installation of viruses, bots, trojan horses, and all other kinds of maliciously invasive, destructive or obnoxious programming routines.

>> to view AVG's Website and download AVG, click here <<

BROWSE  WISELY
by always looking at a link or advertisement before you click it and noting whether that link or advertisement is for the download of anything; downloads from the internet can contain malicious coding that automatically downloads hidden viruses, simultaneous with whatever seemingly innocent item, whether a screen saver, sample program, game, or whatever else.  A download is safe if it is not and does not contain an executable extension.  Standard text and graphic files are safe; most other file types are not and should not be downloaded from other than a reputable source website.

To determine whether the file you desire to download, is a safe file, , look at the complete file name.  The following three filename examples demonstrate safe files.

download_this.txt

download_that.jpg

download_pic.gif

That which follows the "." is called the "file name extension" and that indicates the type of coding that the file contains;  files that end with ".txt" are text files;  files ending with ".jpg" or ".gif" are graphic files.  The following examples indicate files that are NOT safe.

download_this.exe

download_that.zip

download_now.com

download_here.doc

download_it.jpg.exe

The last example herein above, demonstrates a filename with two "."; this usually indicates that the author of the file has attempted to disguise it's dangerous content by including a "safe" file format inside another, potentially damaging file;  to avoid all risk, simply DO NOT DOWNLOAD any file containing two or more "." or, any extensions other than ".jpg", ".txt", and ".gif".

"DON'T"  OPEN  JUNK  MAIL
Always use the preview option in your eMail program to check the source and content of an eMail before you open it;  to avoid potential contamination of your computer system, , if the eMail is not addressed to your eMail address, delete it;  if you do not know the sender, or if the sender's eMail address is not available, delete it;  if the eMail contains any attached file that you have not specifically requested, delete it.  Opening eMail out of mere curiosity to see what it contains, is the most common source of virus infection.  Review the previous item "BROWSE SAFELY" to learn about totally safe file formats and, when requesting eMail attachments from others, be sure to stipulate that the information be provided in one of the safe formats and, if the information arrives in any other format, simply delete it.  Deletion is far simpler and less costly than an infected computer;  viruses can destroy hard-drives, permanently damage CPU's, erase critical information, and virtually all viruses further populate themselves by auto-forwarding that same damaging code to each and every contact in your address book, hence causing un-suspecting recipients to receive the virus on their computers, simply because un-thinkingly, they open an eMail addressed to them, from you, their trusted acquaintance, friend, business associate, etc..