Every day new computer viruses, spyware and other forms of malware are released onto the Internet. This malware searches out unprotected computers and infects them with the intent of stealing passwords, credit card numbers, banking info and passwords. Protecting your computer with an anti-virus package is critical in today's world. Without protection, you open yourself to the threat of identity theft or other forms of fraud.
When searching for an anti-virus software package to put on your computer, there are some key features that you are looking for to ensure that your computer is well protected.
Protecting Email with Anti Virus Software
Most viruses arrive on your computer in the form of an infected email attachment. If you open up this attachment, the virus will install itself silently in the background while you look at a junk document. These emails will have subject lines that entice you to open the attachment, and often disguise themselves as coming from your bank or from the government.
A good anti virus software package will scan incoming email and attachments for the presence of a virus or other malware. If a virus is detected, then you will be alerted and offered the choice of deleting the attachment or letting it pass through. Most often you will want to delete the attachment and the email it came along with. Since most viruses are spread through email, you need an anti virus software that protects your inbox, if the software you are looking for does not include email protection then it is pretty much worthless.
Protecting Web Browsing with Anti Virus Software
Another way that viruses and spyware get onto your computer is through malicious code on web pages. This code takes advantage of security holes in your web browser to force themselves onto your machine. Once installed this malware will start scanning your computer for personal data or turn your computer into a spam sending zombie controlled by a hacker in a far off place.
Anti virus software that monitors the web pages you visit and scans them for malicious code is critical. There have been instances of even large, legitimate web sites unknowingly becoming a virus host through code that was placed in advertisements displayed on that page. However most web sites with viral code are sites that encourage other illegal activities such as illegal file sharing and software cracking.
Protecting Resources with Anti Virus Software
Your computer only has a limited amount of memory, processing speed and network bandwidth. Every program running on your computer uses up a bit of those resources and the more programs you have running the slower you computer will operate. A computer that is running very slow compared to its age is often a machine that is infested with computer viruses. Viruses attempt to hijack your system resources for their own end, and an unprotected computer can easily have several different viruses all running at the same time, slowing your computer and your network connection to a crawl.
Anti virus software has the ability to scan the running processes on your machine and look for things that shouldn't be there. It can also monitor your computers memory and look for signs of virus infection. Good anti virus software will spot viruses and other malware almost immediately and instruct you on what needs to be done to remove them.
Importance of Anti Virus Software
Tens of thousands of computer viruses are active on the Internet, all trying to find their way onto your machine through unprotected email, network or web browsers. A single virus left undetected can slow your computer and put your personal information at risk. Some viruses even target your passwords for popular online games such as World of Warcraft.
Installing an anti virus software package on your machine and keeping it updated regularly will ensure that your machine has the best protection against viruses and malware available. Most anti virus software can be configured to automatically update themselves every day so that you are always protected from the latest threats. In today's world where Internet access is something we do every day, having virus protection on your computer is critically important.
Article Sources:
Onguard Online: Malware Quick Facts US Computer Emergency Readiness Team: Understanding Anti Virus
Eric Summers - Eric Summers is a freelance writer and software quality assurance analyst from Southern Indiana. Summers has been writing for over 20 ...
