Antivirus Blog

In the unfortunate event that your computer becomes infected with a computer virus, there is a very real possibility (depending on the nature of the virus) that your entire hard drive could be wiped out and rendered completely useless. If this were to happen, all of your application data as well as your personal data such as pictures, music, and videos would be permanently lost.

Some viruses are engineered to do nothing beyond annoying you. However, other viruses are much more malicious and designed specifically to cause damage to PCs. If not detected and dealt with immediately, these harmful viruses can cause irreversible damage to your system.

So how do you prevent this from happening? Well, you should have an up to date antivirus program running on your computer to give you the best chances of avoiding this scenario altogether. Viruses are constantly changing and evolving, but so is antivirus software technology. Having quality antivirus software on your side should be your first line of defense against viruses. While the most effective and in-depth antivirus utilities may be somewhat expensive, there are also very capable free antivirus programs that you can use that still offer a great deal of protection. Using common sense and avoiding downloading suspicious email attachments or visiting possibly harmful websites are also important to protect yourself from the potential damage that can be caused by contracting a computer virus. But as an extra precaution, you should consider backing up all of your data.

It’s actually pretty easy to back up all the data on your PC. Depending on how much data is actually stored on your computer, you may or may not need large amounts of storage media to properly back it all up. Most computer users can back up their entire hard drives on a few DVDRs (which can hold up to 4.7gb each). For smaller amounts of data, CDRs can be used (which hold up to 800mb of data). USB drives are another great way to store data. Their capacity to hold information varies greatly.

You’ll need a DVD burner to transfer your files from your computer to DVDR media. Most modern PCs have them built in, but if not you can purchase an external DVD burner and connect it via USB. Similarly, flash drives can be connected to your computer via USB ports to transfer data.

It’s up to you how often you decide to back up your data. Some people only back up their data annually, while others back up their data as often as once or twice a week. The frequency with which you back up your data will likely be determined by how often you create or download new data onto your computer.

Once you’ve got your data properly backed up, you can rest assured knowing that even in the event of a total virus attack destroying your hard drive, youíll still be able to recover all of your files and load them onto your next computer. In a less severe scenario, you might contract a virus that damages some files on your computer but is then removed by your antivirus program. With your backed up data, you can easily replace the damaged files and it will be as if the infection never happened in the first place.

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.