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u Scan your computer for virus and malware and remove them regularly.
u Update device drivers for various hardware devices to make them perform optimally.
u If required, install more RAM to boost up the speed of your computer.

u Use firewalls and other security measures to ensure your computer is free of bloatware and malware.
u Uninstall programs no longer needed.
PROTECTION AGAINST MALWARE AND VIRUS

Malware refers to any program or piece of software that is copied to your computer without your knowledge
and is intended to cause harm to the normal functioning of the computer system.
The major type of malware are Virus, Trojan, Worm, Spyware and Adware. Apart from malicious software,
certain activities are also included as computer malware. These include Spam, Phishing, Data and identity Theft
and Hacking.

Sources of Malware
Computer malware usually spreads in one of following three ways:

Removable media

Removable media like CDs, DVDs and pen drives are one of the oldest sources of malware. CDs and DVDs
containing pirated and illegal software usually install malware on the computer system. With the increase in
popularity of pen drives, these have also become a big source of spread of malware from one system to another.

Software Downloads from the Internet

There are a large number of sites that promise to deliver free copies of useful and popular software. Unfortunately,
most of the software also download malware with them. When the software is installed, the included malware
also gets installed or copied to the system.
E-mail attachments

E-mails are another common source for spreading malware. Attachments in the mail or links to files often take
the user to a site which can automatically copy malware to the computer or copies infected files to a system.
You can keep your computer safe from malware by keeping your computer security tools up to date with the
latest updates and antivirus tools, staying informed about recent threats and following a few basic rules when
you surf the Internet, download files or open attachments in e-mails.

Indication of Malware Infection
Different types of malware cause damage to your computer in many ways. Some of the indications of malware
infection are given below.

u A program takes longer than usual time to load and memory-intensive operations take a lot of time to start.

u A hard disk drive shows no space although there is enough space.
u The file formats change on their own when you try to access them.
u New files keep appearing on the computer, but you do not know where they come from.
u The files on the computer start getting deleted on their own.

u Files have strange names that you do not recognize.
u The computer unexpectedly starts rebooting.
u Inability to access the hard drive or disk drives.

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