How to use a computer and not get viruses?

[Chaz]

I've used several family computers throughout my life and my dad says I break them all. They all end up slowing down and freezing eventually. All I do on the computer is play games like disks and online free games. I do the occasionally facebook and email but I don't know why every computer I use breaks. I might get a new computer soon and I want to know how to take care of it and not let it get viruses. Thanks please help.

[Gt]

Make sure you don't click on spam emails because those can give you viruses. Also many things online can also give you viruses and slow down your computer so be careful.

[FIRE]

dont watch porn

[geek-in-training]

Download and install Microsoft Security Essentials. It is free and will protect your computer from viruses and malware. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windo...essentials

[Dagoth Ur]

Any computer that has a virus can't be "broken". All you have to do, no matter how bad the virus is, is reinstall Windows with the disc that came with your computer or use the "factory reset" feature that newer computers have. It will wipe everything clean and start fresh and anew.

To be quite honest, many parents blame their children for a slowing or freezing computer. A lot of the times, it is just because too many programs are being installed and it isn't even a virus. The whole family is often to blame.

To prevent viruses make sure not to download and run programs from shady sites. Don't download email attachments from people you don't know.

There is also free active anti-virus protection available like Microsoft Security Essentials. The "active" part means it tries to prevent viruses in the first place by stopping infected files from executing in the first place.

[Sangram Biswal]

Are you using anti virus software? If no then its time to get one. You can use Norton or Quick heal or anything better you know.
Also use a Pc optimizer software like Tuneup utilities which will help your pc to run smoothly by optimizing your programs and other hardware stuffs.

[Vanetta]

Don't go on porn websites

[T J]

Besides the porn sites that several people here suggested to be to blame, most sites that offer paid things for free will give you viruses. For example, if a game (or movie, or music, or software) normally costs money and you find a site that offers it for free, at least 90% of those sites spread viruses, so it's an almost sure way to get infected. Two most effective ways to prevent infections are getting educated about how viruses spread, and having very good antivirus software installed and ACTIVE. Before you learn how to stay away from infected sites, you will need really tough AV protection. Use a couple of programs - an antivirus and an anti-malware/anti-spyware program (never use two antivirus programs at once!). You can have you AV on at all times for real-time protection and then scan with antimalware and antispyware programs once every few days or as needed. Below are a couple of links to good programs to use. Good luck!

[Sqibhe--aashiq gee]

i will tell you just one thing about your question that is don't open your any hard drive direct just explore it you will not receive any virus forever.

[Steve]

You haven't broken any of your machines. I think hat you're dad is tying to say is that he's noticed that he machine has begun to slow down for one reason or another, and somehow it's your fault.

That may be the truth as far as I'm aware, but if a machine has slowed down, then it doesn't necessarily mean its broken at all - it may just need a few scans and someone who knows what they're doing (and talking about) to fix it up for you.