Yes, I am totally invading this board with a sticky for a few days. Any moderator/specialist, feel free to desticky this around ~April 3rd or so.
This note is for everyone:
April 1st has often been a target day for malware programmers.
Recently, news of one particular virus that antivirus companies are getting stumped over has caused a lot of fear.
Though you should do these things weekly, now is time to pay special attention:
If your updates are not working properly, reinstall your scanner ASAP. Dont wait.
- Scan your entire computer, including archive files ("Thorough scan"). This is something that you should do at least once a month, it takes time. Leave it running overnight.
- Check Windows Updates. If automatic updates are enabled, check for updates anyways. Often, viruses will disable automatic updates. If automatic updates just arent working, attempt to use the update program in Internet Explorer.
- Backup your files. Viruses are devastation to your data, and they often to wipe things out.
- If your computer gets a virus, disconnect it from your home or work network until the problem is fixed. Cease sharing of files, even if the person you are sharing with has antivirus installed.