5 Tips for Dealing with a Computer Virus

Isolate. If you suspect that you have been infected by a computer virus, unplug the infected computer from the office network. If the virus has spread to other machines, remove the network from the Internet to avoid spreading the virus. Some viruses can send copies of themselves automatically, so limiting exposure is critical.

Diagnose. Run a virus scanner program to determine what is causing the problem. If your computer does not have a virus scanner, you will need to purchase and load one. There are many to choose from, such as McAfee, Symantec or TrendMicro, and costs range from free to under $100. Often, the virus program will identify the virus that you're dealing with.

Treat. Virus scanning software can clean up the virus on your computer. 90 percent of the time, these programs will be sufficient enough to figure out the problem. However, when a virus is so new that there are no "definitions," you will need to go to your vendor and look for new updates.

Learn. After putting out your virus fire, look for opportunities to enhance security on your computer or network. Make sure that your virus software is up-to-date and consider adding a personal firewall in order to provide additional protection.

Protect. Keep your virus software updated and renew annually. Always be sure to back up your computer systems to protect against the loss of important data.