G DATA Software AG: Antivirus, Virenschutz, Virenscanner, Internet Security

"April 1st has become an important fixture in the online criminal's calendar, as they use subjects like “April Fools’” in emails to lure people in. This type of email should be deleted immediately, especially if it comes from an unknown sender. Embedded links should not be clicked as they often contain malicious code", said Eddy Willems, Security Evangelist at G Data SecurityLabs. "Infected websites are widely used to distribute malware. Spam email and posting on social networks are the media of choice for tricking unsuspecting victims into visiting these websites. It is highly recommended that people use an internet security solution that offers real-time pro-tection for all online activities."

Expert tips for more security:

1. Emails from unknown senders should not be opened and deleted straight away. In ad-dition, attachments and embedded links should not be clicked.

2. Special caution is advised when using social network sites. No link should be clicked without proper verification. Services like http://longurl.org help to examine any short-ened URLs.

3. The language of a message can be a vital clue to reveal an attempt to trick you into clicking a link. If a message from a friend contains incorrect grammar and spelling or is posted in a language that is not his or her native language, this might be an indicator for a fake message.

4. The operating system and all other software on your system should constantly be up-dated. Software updates for any program must be installed as soon as they become available to close any loopholes in the system.

5. Users are advised to use a comprehensive security solution which constantly monitors all internet traffic and includes an effective spam filter. This offers the most effective protection from drive-by downloads and spam emails.

6. Spam emails should always be deleted. Under no circumstances should you reply or use an "unsubscribe" function. This is a confirmation for spam senders that an email address is active which makes the email address even more valuable, leading to more spam emails.

Safe in the cloud
It is becoming increasingly common for viruses to spread via the internet. Users of free antivirus solutions are often insufficiently protected from infected websites. G Data CloudSecurity closes this dangerous gap. The browser plug-in for Internet Explorer and Firefox blocks dangerous websites in real-time before they can do any harm to a user's system. The best part of this is that it's free. G Data CloudSecurity is compatible with any previously installed antivirus program and ready for use immediately following installation. For more information visit http://www.free-cloudsecurity.com.