There are many great products available for purchase and download these days for our personal computers. These include music, audiobooks, creative fonts, games and a variety of software. However, before you download something onto your computer, you need to make sure that the download won't infect your computer with a virus or malware. Here are some easy tips that can help keep you safe and secure.

Generally, it is safe to download from large companies such as Apple, Google and Microsoft. Downloading music into your iTunes account or downloading a game for your Xbox Live account is probably going to be a safe bet. On the other hand, there are plenty of other websites that allow you to download software, games, music and other items but they aren't necessarily secure. In general, if you have never heard of the website, do a bit of research before you download from it.

File extensions also can be troublesome, and these are located at the end of every file and might look like .gif or perhaps .jpeg. There are many different extensions and often those that look like .exe, .doc, .scr and .bat can be malicious. However, anytime you download from a source you aren't 100% sure about, it is wise to scan the file first with your anti-virus program.

It seems like every day we receive hundreds of emails. Some of the worst emails head straight for your spam folder, but occasionally an odd email from one of your contacts makes it into your inbox. If it comes from a friend or a co-worker, you probably don't think too much about opening it and clicking on the links inside. However, sometimes these links are fraudulent and you can end up allowing malware to access your entire contact list or perhaps you will be downloading a Trojan or virus. To ensure that the link is OK, hover on top of the link, but don't click. Then look at the bottom of your browser screen, it should show the true source of the link. If it truly is a funny video from Buzz Feed or an interesting article from CNN, this will show as the website. If it's not, then just don't click on the link and delete the email.

If something has a copyright on it, such as book, a song or a movie, you have to buy it from a legitimate source that is licensed to sell the product. However, often you can find "free" downloads of songs or movies that are pirated. Downloading pirated material is a bad idea for two reasons. For one, it is illegal and you can be subject to prosecution. Secondly, often these sites are simply download malware onto your system and you aren't getting anything for free except for the headache of computer problems or a huge security breach.

If your PC does become infected, removing the malware can be tricky and time-consuming, so it's often easier to simply call in a Portland computer repair expert to handle the job for you. GeeksAKnockin', for instance, offers computer support in Portland, computer support in Hillsboro, computer support in Gresham, computer repair in Beaverton and throughout the Portland area.