Antivirus Programs Tips
What to look out for when installing new
antivirus program
When you buy a new computer, one of the first things you must do
is protect your investment from malicious software programs such as viruses, worms, spyware, and
trojans. These programs can cause serious damage to your computer system by erasing data or providing your
sensitive data to criminals, commonly known as identity theft. You can help protect your personal computer by installing antivirus
software to remove and prevent nasty viruses and spyware.
Choosing Antivirus Program
There are various antivirus programs available on the market, both free and paid.
Free antivirus programs offer a good protection, but it comes with a somewhat reduced capacity. The idea behind
free antivirus programs is to give you the basic protection, while offering you a full protection at a cost. Beware
of the "free" anti virus programs that are actually only trial paid versions. Paid antivirus programs are best way
to go. Among the best paid antivirus programs are McAfee and Norton Antivirus, to name a two. Of the free versions, Avira, AVG, and Avast will do the basic work. Keep in mind that
Avast can be heavy on resource use (see below), although it has some other advantages, such as removing viruses
before Windows load up (after it's been installed for the first time).
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In order to safely do your online work, paid antivirus
programs are usually
the best antivirus protection for your computers or
laptops. (Image: Pixabay) |
What to look out for in your antivirus
program
While antivirus programs do the same job, there are several things to
keep in mind when choosing an antivirus program.
» Ease of
Use
First you will want to consider the ease of use of the software. The average
computer user is not tech savvy so you will want your antivirus software to be very user friendly. Look for
features such as easy configuration as well as scanning your system on demand. The software should also
automatically check for updates and remind you to scan your computer, by taking a note of the last scan done. Even
if you don't detect a virus, it's good to scan your computer at least once a month; more often if you do a lot of
online work.
»
Stop Viruses
A good antivirus program will also be able to remove dangerous viruses, trojans, and worms and prevent new ones from infecting
your computer. If the program cannot completely remove these viruses, it should at the minimum be able to keep
the virus from spreading. Most of the antivirus programs will warn you when they detect an unusual activity on
your computer. If the program detects a virus, it will give the name of the virus and stop its activity.
It's then up to you to remove the virus using your antivirus software, or seek other programs to remove it if your
program can't do it. The quicker you can do this, the less harm will be done to your computer system.
»
Resource Use
It is also important to ask if the software is a system hog. Many antivirus
programs can use up a lot of your computer's resources slowing down your system. This can cause problems if
you plan on running your antivirus software in the background while you continue to work. There are many good
programs available that use resources more effectively. They run unnoticed in the background while you
continue to work normally. This includes automatic updates, which good programs do almost unnoticed. The more RAM
(Random Access Memory) or "working memory" your computer has, the less noticed your antivirus program will do its
work.
»
Spyware Prevention
Some antivirus programs do include spyware prevention but in order to be fully
protected, you may opt for purchasing separate spyware software as well. A separate spyware program can help
ensure that your computer is safe from spyware issues that a combo program may not be equipped to catch.
One of the best anti-spyware programs is Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, available as
both free and paid version. Another good anti-spyware program to use is Zone Alarm, also available as free and paid
program.
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