Anti-Virus
A virus can come from files, e-mails, web pages, or even devices you plug in (like thumbdrives or printers) and destroy your files or your computer once they get in. An anti-virus is software designed to detect and prevent that from happening.
For them to work properly, they must download software updates on an almost daily basis, so it is best to use free anti-virus products or keep the subscriptions current. Also note that you can't install multiple anti-virus products simultaneously as they will interfere with each other.
Our currently recommended anti-virus product is AVG:
STOP!
Due to rampant privacy invasion, I no longer recommend the AVG anti-virus. At this time, the best free anti-virus available is Avast which can be found here
I'd used Norton products for years because I got them free from working in retail or attending a school with a special license). Now that those days are over, I've had to look at paying for the anti-virus and I've begun to wonder if it's worth it.
Norton software is a notorious hog of system resources and can drastically slow down your computer's start-up time. Switching to free alternatives is a big help.
The newest version of AVG works very well and also includes a feature that automatically checks your search engine results for malicious code. A site with a green check next to it is considered safe and anything else should be treated cautiously.
When you got to the site, remember to be careful to get the free for home use version and not the "Free trial" of any of their other versions. Also be cautious during the install process to uncheck any options for add-ons like Yahoo! Toolbar or such. Other than that, it should be a pretty straight-forward process.
Security Software
| Make sure you have a up-to-date Anti-Virus Program to protect you against bad websites or files. |
| Sometimes spyware gets in your computer and the anti-virus won't stop it. Use a spyware scanner to find and remove spyware and adware. |
| Use a software firewall to detect bad code on your computer when it tries to connect to the Internet. |
| Always keep your system up to date with security patches or none of the rest of your security software will matter. |
| Use an encryption tool to protect your important data when storing or transmitting it. |
| Switch to Firefox for your web browsing and you'll be better protected from Internet threats. |
Safe Computing Practices
| Don't get tricked by fake alerts or clever webpages into downloading viruses or spyware! |
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