Among the many ways on how to prevent viruses, anti-spyware software has become the latest fad. Although viruses are quite old (they have more than 20 years of existence), spyware is relatively new. These programs became famous in the last few years, when the use of the internet became widespread through out the world.

Fortunately, several computer security companies found that it was an interesting niche market that could be exploited. That's why they developed programs for fighting this menace. You only need to make a basic query in your favorite search engine and you will find many options. If you don't know which is better, don't worry. Most of them come with free versions or trial periods. That way you will be able to test them before spending your hard-earned dollars.

All of these recommendations have the same consign: to prevent virus infestation. However, there is another important question: how to avoid computer viruses? The first rule of thumb is to be wary of the attachments that you download from electronic mails. Although an email can be sent by a friend, that doesn't mean that it isn't virus free. Assure yourself by configuring your email software. That way, every time you receive an email, your antivirus will check it.

The same thing goes for files that are downloaded from the internet. There are thousands of websites full of free games and software utilities. If you download files from those sites, check them; even if they come from sites like Download.com. Additionally, if you use programs like BitTorrent and Emule for downloading content, you must be very careful. Those files could be infested with virus or even spyware.

Finally, you must educate all the users if you want to prevent spyware, viruses or any other kind of malware. It doesn't matter if you spend one hundred dollars per year in security software if your little cousin accidentally downloads a virus through an Instant Messaging program like MSN Messenger.

In resume, if you want to avoid computer viruses, you need to do your homework and maintain yourself updated. That doesn't mean that you have to transform into a computer geek navigating through dozens of forums. You just need to check sites as CNN.com or Slashdot.org in order to know what is happening in the world of personal computers. Remember, in order prevent computer viruses, you must be prepared.