You turn on your computer, and it doesn’t look quite right.
Maybe your icons have changed, or the background picture is
wrong. Some options are disabled. Even worse, you may not be
able to boot your computer up at all. Guess what – it’s probably
got a virus.
In today’s online world, protecting your computer from all the
nasty things online is vital. Viruses can cause obvious issues,
as described above, but they can also run silently in the
background, propagating themselves across your computer and
transferring on to the computers of people you know. Mostly, you
only know you have a virus when substantial damage has already
been done.
Some common signs of a virus include:
-Programs working erratically -Computer locks up -Greyed out
options -The browser home page has changed -Icons have changed
-Difficulties starting up the computer
There is a solution! Antivirus software is readily available,
and the good ones are very efficient at dealing with viruses in
all their many and varied mutations. Basically, if you’re
online, you need this type of software.
So which one do you choose? For starters, be careful of using
something free off the internet, particularly if it’s one you’ve
never heard of. Sometimes these programs are a way of implanting
more viruses on your computer. Some of the better known brands
give you the option of doing a free scan online, which is
useful, but not a long term solution.
It’s really important to choose well-known antivirus software.
Ask friends, or someone computer savvy, for their
recommendations. It may be worth visiting a computer store and
buying it there, rather than online – after all, if they’ve gone
to the trouble of stocking it, it’s most likely an established
and trusted product.
There are plenty of good brands available, far too numerous to
list here, but some of the best known are from McAfee, Norton
and Trend. Check out the support available to you – can you
contact someone if you have trouble installing the software?
Most importantly, make sure there’s an easy way to update the
software on a regular basis (preferably as part of the purchase
cost!). For example, my antivirus software pops up a little box
every time an upgrade is available. I click okay, and it’s
automatically downloaded to my computer. Viruses change and
develop at an alarming rate, so it’s vital to keep your
antivirus software up to date.
Finally, the all-important backup! The word “backup” tends to
produce the same glassy eyed response as the word “budget”, but
it really is an essential part of being online. Regularly backup
your important files to CD or DVD. If you’re a business user, an
automated and frequent backup process is vital. Once a virus has
destroyed your computer, it’s too late.
Being online is wonderful, but don’t let it become a nightmare.
Antivirus software will play a vital role in keeping your online
experience a positive one.
Copyright Felicity Walker
About the author:
Keeping her computer running smoothly is a priority for the
author! To find out more, check out http://www.antiviruszon
eonline.com for more information.