subject: Beat Spyware With The Latest Software [print this page] Lets be frankLets be frank. Anyone who does not take immediate steps to protect their computer from viruses is really not very smart. While some people nay think that I am paranoid, it is really only common sense to protect your valuable equipment and data. Even huge corporations such as Microsoft suffer attacks from viruses and spyware.
When I first became involved in the internet, computer viruses were transmitted by floppy disks, which meant that the viruses were much easier to control. Compared to the present day, it was a slow process before a virus was able to infect a computer. The anti spyware software of that time could in those days fairly easily detect and destroy viruses before they caused a grat deal of damage. Another thing that was evident then, was the ability of uses to scan their discs prior to installing them on their computers.
The Internet has unfortunately changed this by facilitating the transfer of viruses between targets very quickly. No longer could you be just concerned with floppy disks as points of entry but also email, email attachments, file sharing, instant messaging, and software downloads. Today's viruses can infiltrate through multiple entry points and spread without human intervention.
Antivirus software is essential protection to fend off viruses and other malicious programs such as adware or spyware. These products are designed to protect against the ability of a virus to enter a computer through email, web browsers, file servers and desktops. Additionally, these programs offer a centralized control feature that handle deployment, configuration and updating. You still need to be diligent and follow directions as the software must be installed and set up correctly to be effective.
Why not make a start now and evaluate your current computer security system. With the threat of a new generation of viruses able to attack in a multitude of ways, you need to be one step ahead of those who have nothing better to do than create havoc among the computing public. You may need to consider a more comprehensive security system which includes several features including antivirus, firewall, content filtering, and intrusion detection. A system with these features will of course make it more difficult for your system to suffer an attack.
As new viruses break out on a daily basis, it is most important that you regularly update your antivirus software. A good tip to remember is to make use of the software's real-time scan feature and configure it to begin every time that your computer boots up. Another good tip is to scan all new programs or files that you intend using. Be particularly careful when opening binary, Word, or Excel documents as these are often sources of infection. You should also carry out regular backups in case your system is corrupted, as this will assist in recovery of information in the event of a crash resulting from a virus attack.
There are many brands of antivirus software on offer. With a little research, you should be able to select the program that is right for you. Many of these programs offer a trial period whcan be an advantage as you can "try before you buy". However, you should be aware that some anti-virus programs can be difficult to uninstallfrom your computer if you no longer require them, so set up what is known as a system restore point prior to installing any anti-spyware system.
