Best Way to Prevent virus

If you google and read about the April Fool virus/worm, known as Win32/Conficker.A or Downadup or Kido, you will know that it is a ‘worm’ virus that exploits a gap in Microsoft Windows software. You will know that it has already affected approximately 11.4 million Windows computers. It may start to communicate with more computers via the Internet on April 1 this year. If you read carefully, you will notice that it mainly affect computer running Windows. You will read that this computer worm originally began wreaking havoc in Windows computers in October 2008. You will read also that Microsoft is offering $250,000 to anyone who can stop the Conficker worm.

I think you get the picture. What is the best way to prevent the April Fool virus?

Stop using Windows! Switch to a free and much much more secure Linux operating system called Ubuntu. If you cannot fix something, it is better to find a good alternative.

I have made the switch for 3 years – see this post here – and I have no problem with Ubuntu in terms of computer worms and viruses. And the nicest thing ever is – it does not slow down with time like the Windows. You know what I mean. The Windows runs lightening fast when you have a fresh install but after a while it runs slower and slower, no matter how good your hardware is. Not a problem for Ubuntu at all.

It is totally FREE!

Nowadays it is hard to find anything free, especially for computer operating system. Yet Ubuntu is free to download and install. Not only that. It allows you to install numerous scripts/programs free as well. If you do run into a problem with it, its forum is full of people willing to help you solve it. The operating system comes preloaded with many programs including the Firefox browser and OpenOffice suite – the latter is just like Microsoft Office and it can open all Microsoft Office files. It also comes preloaded with a wonderful email client program called Thunderbird, which is much better than Outlook Express. Thunderbird allows you to set up mutiple email accounts in it and it gives each email account a separate folder so much the email messages sent to different email address do not lump together in one place like the Outlook Expres.

What if you need to run Windows once in a while after installing Ubuntu?

Unlike other people who suggest Ubuntu/Windows dual boot, I recommend installing Windows INSIDE Ubuntu. Yes, this is made possible by Sun Microsystem’s VirtualBox for Ubuntu.

Basically, you install Ubuntu first by taking over the entire hard drive. Then you install Sun’s VirtualBox from inside Ubuntu with just a few mouse clicks. Lastly, run and configure VirtualBox for the installation of Windows using a CD. That’s it!

Since Windows is wrapped inside Ubuntu, Windows is now as secure as Ubuntu. In my case, I do not have to install any anti-virus/worm program for my Windows that is running inside Ubuntu and I have not had any problem so far. Unlike the Ubuntu/Windows dual boot configuration which allows you to only run one operating system a time. Running Windows inside Ubuntu via VirtualBox allows you to run both operating systems at the same time. And you can configure the two operating systems to share files as well. Nice!

So instead of hating Windows and throwing your Windows CD in the garbage can, you can redeem it by installing it inside Ubuntu.

So have a wonderful April Fool’s Day by switching to Ubuntu! You won’t be a fool if you do so 🙂

About VinRade

Cloud Tech Enthusiast, Microsoft 365 AD Administrator, Virtual Machine Lover, System Administrator, Network and Security Integration, Web Designing and Developing, ICT and Robotics Teacher, DJ, Photographer, and Drag Racer.
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