| Protecting your computer from a virus is getting harder | | | | and configure it to start automatically each time you |
| and harder each day. While it may border on the | | | | boot your computer. This will protect your system by |
| paranoid, it goes without saying that you can’t | | | | automatically checking your computer each time it is |
| leave your guard down for one second. Even | | | | powered up. |
| corporate giant Microsoft has found its own systems | | | | 3. Make it a habit to always scan all new programs or |
| compromised on more than one occasion. | | | | files no matter from where they originate. |
| Remember the "good old days", before the advent of | | | | 4. Exercise caution when opening binary, Word, or |
| the Internet and downloadable programs? Life was | | | | Excel documents of unknown sources especially if |
| simple then in terms of computer viruses. With the | | | | they were received during an online chat or as an |
| primary way in which a virus could be transmitted | | | | attachment to an email. |
| being limited to floppy disks, the ability to catch and | | | | 5. Perform regular backups in case your system is |
| eradicate the virus was a lot easier. By today’s | | | | corrupted. It may be the only way to recover your |
| standards, it used to take quite a while before a virus | | | | data if infected. |
| was able to infect a computer and slow down the | | | | Recommended Antivirus Software |
| system. The antivirus software of that time was | | | | There are numerous applications available to |
| typically able to identify and eradicate viruses before | | | | consumers. With a little research, you can pick the |
| they caused too much damage. Additionally, computer | | | | program that is right for you. Many programs provide a |
| users were pretty savvy on how to protect | | | | trial version which allows you to download the |
| themselves in terms of scanning all floppy disks before | | | | program and test its abilities. However, be aware that |
| copying them to our desktop. | | | | some anti-virus programs can be difficult to uninstall. |
| The Internet helped change all that. The Internet | | | | As a precaution make sure to set up a System |
| provided a conduit by which viruses could move from | | | | Restore point before installing. |
| host to host with lightening speed. No longer could a | | | | Here are a few programs which typically receive high |
| computer user just worry about floppy disks as points | | | | marks in terms of cost, effectiveness, ease of use, |
| of entry, but they now had to worry about email, email | | | | and customer service. |
| attachments, peer-to-peer file sharing, instant | | | | The Shield Pro 2005™ provides virus protection and |
| messaging, and software downloads. Today’s | | | | hacker security through ongoing support and updates. |
| viruses can attack through multiple entry points, spread | | | | When a virus breaks out, The Shield Pro 2005™ |
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| vulnerabilities within a system or program. With | | | | for the virus within 5 hours. You can set your |
| technology advancing everyday, and the convergence | | | | computer to update viruses weekly and run a |
| of computers with other mobile devices, the potential | | | | complete virus scan. |
| of new types of threats also increase. | | | | BitDefender 9 Standard provides antivirus protection, |
| Protecting Your Computer | | | | as well as Peer-2-Peer Applications protection, full |
| Luckily, the advancement of antivirus software has | | | | email protection, and heuristics in a virtual environment. |
| kept pace with current virus threats. Antivirus software | | | | This provides a new security layer that keeps the |
| is essential to a computer’s ability to fend off | | | | operating system safe from unknown viruses by |
| viruses and other malicious programs. These products | | | | detecting malicious pieces of code for which |
| are designed to protect against the ability of a virus to | | | | signatures have not been released yet. |
| enter a computer through email, web browsers, file | | | | Kaspersky Anti-Virus Personal 5.0 program is simple to |
| servers and desktops. Additionally, these programs | | | | install and use. The user only needs to choose from |
| offer a centralized control feature that handle | | | | three levels of protection. It allows updates as |
| deployment, configuration and updating. | | | | frequently as every hour while promising not to disrupt |
| A computer user should remain diligent and follow a | | | | your computer. The program also offers a two-tier |
| few simple steps to protect against the threat of a | | | | email protection feature and round-the-clock technical |
| virus: | | | | support. |
| 1. Evaluate your current computer security system. | | | | PC-cillin Internet Security combines antivirus security |
| With the threat of a new generation of viruses able to | | | | and a personal firewall—for comprehensive |
| attack in a multitude of ways, the approach of having | | | | protection against viruses, worms, Trojans, and |
| just one antivirus software version has become | | | | hackers. It also detects and removes spyware and |
| outdated. You need to be confident that you have | | | | blocks spam. It even guards against identity theft by |
| protected all aspects of your computer system from | | | | blocking phishing and pharming attacks. |
| the desktop to the network, and from the gateway to | | | | AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition is a free downloadable |
| the server. Consider a more comprehensive security | | | | antivirus program that has received high marks for its |
| system which includes several features including | | | | reliability. In the past, free downloadable antivirus |
| antivirus, firewall, content filtering, and intrusion detection. | | | | programs have been viewed skeptically because of |
| This type of system will make it more difficult for the | | | | issues relating to its reliability. However, AVG from |
| virus to penetrate your system. | | | | Grisoft, remains one of the best-known free anti-virus |
| 2. Only install antivirus software created by a | | | | programs available. While AVG can not be installed on |
| well-known, reputable company. | | | | a server operating system and there is no technical |
| Because new viruses erupt daily, it is important that | | | | support, it still makes a good choice for many home |
| you regularly update your antivirus software. Become | | | | computer users. The best part is that since it is free, |
| familiar with the software’s real-time scan feature | | | | you can try it with no further obligation necessary. |