Antivirus Blog

The task of researching and deciding on an antivirus software package that’s right for you can be a tough one. There are countless brands available and it can often be difficult to distinguish the difference between many antivirus products. Over the years the two big players that most security-minded PC owners have depended on are Norton and McAfee, but in recent times, there have been several other powerful antivirus utilities to hit the market. Many of them are more affordable than the aforementioned brands.

Luckily for the consumer, there are plenty of helpful antivirus comparison sites available on the internet with honest reviews. Many of them conduct in depth research that really put antivirus products to the test, or at the least refer to 3rd party tests from trustworthy sources to give the customer an unbiased review. However, one problem that frequently arises is that the reviews are often geared towards the tech crowd, and are not always as accessible to the average consumer who may not have extensive knowledge about or experience with computers.

In an effort to try to break it down for you, here is a list of 5 key points that should be looked for when comparing antivirus software.

1. Virus Scanning and Removal - This one may very well go without saying, but it is extremely important that you can depend on your software to effectively detect and eliminate all types of viruses, including worms and Trojans. Websites like PC World and CNet are both great sources for fair reviews. No matter which software you’re researching, be sure to check at least two or more reviews about that product to check for consistency. If a product is truly as great as it claims to be, then that should be reflected in several independent reviews.
2. Virus Definition update - Premium antivirus software will feature automatic updates which provide the most constant and up to date protection for your computer possible. New virus threats surface all the time, therefore it is imperative that your antivirus software be constantly updated so that its virus definition database can combat these new threats.
3. Control Panel - An easy to use control panel is a huge plus, especially if you don’t have a lot of technical experience with computers. Configuring your personal preferences within the software should be a simple task.
4. Technical Support - Technical support is a pivotal factor that you should take into account. The best antivirus products offer free technical support, either via phone or live chat. Some even offer their tech support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, some antivirus software vendors actually charge additional fees for technical support.
5. Price / Value - Most major antivirus software developers also offer complete security suites that offer several additional features such as firewall software, spam filters, and more. While these bundled products might be a bit more expensive than just buying a basic antivirus program, they usually offer great value. Some people think they don’t need the additional firewall feature because Windows XP has a built in firewall, but what they don’t realize is that the default firewall in XP only monitors incoming traffic.

By taking all of these crucial factors into account, you’ll be able to make a well-informed decision when you purchase your next brand of antivirus software.

The internet has become a way of life for millions of people. Paying bills, shopping, and communicating with friends have all become activities regularly done online as opposed to the old fashioned ways. People are also using the internet to handle car loans, apply for credit cards, even to do their personal banking online.

All of this activity results in significant amounts of sensitive, private information being transmitted over the internet every single day. Some people are confident in the security of conducting such business online, while others are a bit more wary. Many people refuse to do it altogether. For instance, some people prefer to do all of their shopping online, while others won’t even submit their email address to a website. While it is true that there are some potential security risks associated with transmitting personal data online, with the right software and familiarity with the way the internet works, these risks can be minimized and such tasks can be performed safely.

Identity theft is a very common crime. Having your identity compromised can have serious consequences. In the event that your identity is stolen, criminals may use your information to:

• Create fraudulent utility accounts
• Take out loans
• Obtain credit cards
• Open fraudulent checking or savings accounts
• Commit bank fraud
• Obtain fraudulent government documents, such as IDs and passports

Some people think that because they have a fair or poor credit score that they don’t have to be as concerned with identity theft as someone with good credit. This is definitely not true, considering that some of the things mentioned above do not require a positive credit record, and can result in a significant headache. Once negative items appear on your record, even if they’re fraudulent, it can be a lengthy process to prove that they are erroneous and have them removed.

Internet Security Software

All major security software companies offer products that feature Internet security. Having this software installed on your machine greatly decreases your chances of having your information stolen.

Has Your Identity Been Compromised?

You should check your credit report on a regular basis. The sooner you spot suspicious entries the sooner you can get the problem resolved before any new ones arise. There are several credit monitoring services available online. You can also obtain one free credit report each year, so at the very least you should take advantage of that.
Shop at Secure Websites

Do not make any purchases from websites that appear suspicious, and as a general rule you should only make purchases on sites that use security encryption. Encryption makes it so that all information you transmit to their site is scrambled until they receive it, making it difficult to intercept and virtually impossible to use by thieves.

Keep Your Software Up to Date

Sometimes people have spyware running on their computers and they have no idea. More malicious types of spyware are designed to steal your personal information and relay it to the thieves that created the harmful software over the internet. Other types of spyware are more harmless, but should still be removed to protect your privacy and keep your computer running efficiently. The best way to combat spyware is to make sure your computer’s security software is constantly up to date with the latest information pertaining to new types of spyware. Most types of modern security software can be set to automatically update.

Although identity theft is a real danger and unfortunate reality, with a little bit of precaution it can easily be avoided, and you can still take advantage of all the conveniences the Internet has to offer.

There are countless types of viruses designed to do nothing other than harm computers. At the very least, a virus can be difficult to remove nuisance, but in some cases a virus can even completely wipeout your entire hard drive. The following are 9 steps that you can take to effectively protect your system from such harmful infections.

1. First and foremost, install antivirus software. There are countless brands of antivirus software, and there is a pretty broad range of price and quality available. Trusted names like McAfee, Norton, and TrendMicro are leaders in the industry and offer maximum protection. Do your own research online or in computer magazines to find reviews that will help you make an informed decision as to which antivirus product is right for you.
2. Always keep your antivirus software up to date. Most paid antivirus utilities come with at least a year long subscription service that gives you access to regular updates. Usually youíll have an option to either receive updates automatically or manually. Automatic updates are highly recommended. New types of viruses are created every single day, so it is imperative that your antivirus software is constantly updated with the latest virus definitions.
3. Make sure that your antivirus software is always active, and set to scan all incoming and outgoing email messages, as well as downloads and any software that you initialize.
4. Keep your OS (operating system) up to date. If updates to your OS are not delivered automatically, be sure to manually check for them periodically. Windows XP as well as Windows Vista both regularly check for updates automatically as long as they are enabled to do so (which they are, be default). These updates may correct security faults that are discovered to further protect your computer from virus attacks.
5. If you use USB drives or floppy disks on public computers such as those at your school computer lab or at the library, be sure to scan them for viruses when you return to your computer to make sure they have not contracted any computer viruses from those public computers.
6. Always be wary of email attachments. Consider any email from an unknown sender to be potentially hazardous. In some cases, even emails from trusted senders may have potentially been sent by a virus running on their computer, so even then you must use your best discretion. Never download an attachment unless you know exactly what it is.
7. Use the same caution with instant messaging that you use with email. If you receive an IM with a link from an unknown sender, it is never a good idea to click on the link. In many cases the link will direct you to a site that will load some type of malware onto your computer through your browser.
8. When looking for software to download, try to only download from popular and trusted sites that have a good reputation and regularly scan the programs uploaded to their site for viruses. As an additional precaution you should also scan the software yourself before you install it onto your system.
9. Last, but certainly not least, you should regularly make backups of all your data. The best ways to do this are to either copy your data from your hard drive to CDs, DVDs, or USB drives. With this added precaution, even if all of your data is wiped out by a virus, you will still have backup copies of everything. This is especially important for personal files such as images and videos that may not be replaceable.