When using social media, which of the following are security measures that will help protect your computer?

Installing and maintaining current anti-virus software is a fundamental security measure that significantly enhances the protection of your computer. Anti-virus software is specifically designed to detect, prevent, and remove malicious software, such as viruses, worms, and Trojan horses that can compromise your system. Keeping the software up-to-date is crucial because cyber threats continuously evolve, and manufacturers regularly release updates that enable the software to recognize and counteract new threats.

In the context of using social media, where users are often exposed to various risks such as phishing attacks and malware distribution, having reliable anti-virus software acts as a primary defense mechanism. This ensures that any harmful software trying to infiltrate your system, often disguised as innocuous links or attachments, is effectively blocked, thus keeping personal information and data secure.

While other measures mentioned can contribute to a broader security strategy, they do not offer the immediate and comprehensive protection that active anti-virus software provides. For instance, following a prescribed format for information is more related to organizational practices rather than security, becoming familiar with references aids in knowledge but not in immediate computer defense, and being cautious about links is important but doesn't replace the need for anti-virus protection.