There are many different types of malware programs. Some of the common ones are viruses, Trojans, worms, spyware and adware. These malicious programs infiltrate your system through many different sources, such as open network shares, unprotected internet connections, infected external media and email attachments, buggy software and media that are usually downloaded from the Internet, and unsolicited websites.

Once your PC is infected with any of these, it starts malfunctioning and you may encounter several computer problems.  Such as the ones listed below:

• You are unable to launch applications.
• Your PC fails to boot normally.
• The number of errors on your computer increases by manifolds.
• Your Internet Explorer pages are hijacked and you are forcefully routed to affiliate web sites.
• Several unwanted programs are installed on your system without your knowledge or permission.
• Many programs with exe files similar to legitimate windows executables, such as iexplore.exe are added.
• PC is bombarded with a large number of unwanted adware.
• The performance of your computer deteriorates and you encounter frequent system freezes and crashes.

To prevent this havoc and to prevent these malicious programs from infiltrating your PC, you need to take some corrective measures. The following are the 3 essential tasks that you need to do.

Get the Right Tools

First and foremost, you need reliable and effective antimalware and security tools. These tools usually include antivirus, antispyware, antispam, and firewall.

• Antivirus helps in getting rid of virus and Trojans,
• Antispyware helps in preventing spyware and adware—for example you may use the tool to uninstall mirar toolbar, which is an Internet Explorer spyware browser help object (BHO),
• Antispam blocks unwanted spam emails, and
• Firewall helps in blocking unauthorized access to your PC.

Depending on your requirements, you may choose to have a tool that comprises all these features, or you may opt for a separate tool for each function. Whatever your choice may be, you must remember to keep them updated and enable their real-time protection feature. You must also take care to schedule periodic virus and spyware scans to ensure that your PC stays free from malicious software.

Keep your Software Updated

Many security threats, viruses, and spyware are built around vulnerabilities discovered in a software product after it is launched in the market. This is the reason why software manufacturers release regular updates to patch up any security lapses found in their products. As a vigilant user you must ensure that you update your operating system, application and device drivers on a regular basis to prevent these problems. To automatically update your Windows operating system and other Microsoft products, you may enable the built-in Windows Automatic Update feature.

Many device drivers and applications also comprise the automatic update option. You may enable these options to ensure that all software on your PC stays updated and well-protected against any security threats built around the vulnerabilities detected in them.

Clean your registry

All software on your computer adds their configuration information in the registry that allows them to function. So, even the malware programs add malicious entries within the registry that allows them to carry out their obstructive operations. What’s more, there are a few malicious software programs that alter the existing entries in the registry and prevent your legitimate programs from working properly. To get rid of these malicious entries and to repair the legitimate entries altered by malware, you may use a good registry cleaner tool to regularly scan, clean and repair your registry.