Antivirus Software

Protecting your computer from bugs

Just like people, computers are prone to catching viruses. It's a fact of life. And just like human viruses, computer viruses spread through contact with other computers. If you never go online or share files with another computer, you will never get a virus. But that's unlikely. Chances are, at some point your computer will be afflicted with a virus and you will need virus software to restore it to health.

Computer viruses are programs that were written with the intention to harm your computer. They may delete or corrupt files, perform pranks or allow someone else access to your computer. Many viruses can replicate themselves and attach themselves to other files or emails, thus spreading to other computers.

Virus removal software scans your computer and deletes or quarantines any harmful files it finds. Usually, it works by consulting a list of every known virus and checking each file that is opened, closed or downloaded on your computer to see if there's a match.

New virus programs are constantly being written. Some actually have the ability to "mutate" and modify themselves. For this reason, you cannot simply buy antivirus software once and consider the problem solved. You will need constant updates. If you do a lot of downloading or go to high-risk websites, it is especially important to keep your viruses software up-to-date.

Antivirus software packages often come with features such as email spam filters, website authentication, automatic file backup, spyware protection and firewalls.

Features and Benefits

Antivirus software:

• Protects your files: Viruses can corrupt your files, causing you to lose data and hard work. In some cases, applications or even operating systems need to be reinstalled.
• Protects your privacy: Some viruses allow others access to your computer, either to gain information about you or to upload and download files.
• Protects your friends: Viruses can piggyback on emails that you send to your friends or colleagues, infecting their computers.

Top Choices

There are many software antivirus packages out there, but these are the best-known:

• Norton AntiVirus
• McAfee VirusScan
• Microsoft Live OneCare
• Panda Antivirus

Major Considerations

• What features do I want? Am I looking for just virus protection, or do I want a larger package to protect against spyware, email spam and other nuisances?
• Do I do a lot of downloading or go to high-risk sites?
• Do I use wireless Internet?
• How valuable are the files I am protecting?
• Will I be installing this software on a single computer or on a computer network?

Price Range

Most antivirus packages come in the form of annual subscriptions that send you constant updates as new viruses are discovered. They range from around $40 to around $80 for a one-year subscription. There are also several companies that offer free antivirus software. Usually, this is a more basic version of the package they offer for sale.

Summary

No one can afford to live without virus protection. Even if you only use your computer for personal files, or don't often go online, the frustration of dealing with a virus is not worth the risk. If your computer is used for business, if you do a lot of downloading, or if you send personal information over the Internet, you should consider the protection of a complete antivirus package.