Antivirus Program Articles

Antivirus Internet Security- Antivirus internet security is important. There are many things to consider when choosing your next antivirus internet security program. Here is a general antivirus internet security review written by Best Antivirus Program.

A computer virus is a small software program with two key characteristics: it is meant to spread from computer to computer, similar to the way that a virus such as a cold spreads from person to person, and it is meant to interfere with the computer's operation. A virus may spread through email attachments or instant messages, through removable media, such as CDs and DVDs, and from Internet downloads.

Computer viruses are often disguised as other, sometimes harmless, items, such as images, audio or video files, or pirated software. They are often not recognized until they are unleashed on the computer and start to interrupt normal operations. Though some of these indicators can signal something else, especially if only a single one happens, they may indicate the presence of a virus:

• slow processing

• no response or locking up

• crashing and restarting every few minutes

• applications not working properly

• inaccessible disks or disk drives

• appearance of unusual error messages

• windows and dialogs take on an odd appearance

• an antivirus program is disabled and cannot be run

• an antivirus program cannot be installed

• new icons that you did not install appear on the desktop or a program that you did install disappears

• rapidly disappearing free space on the hard drive

• email going out that you did not send, possibly to everyone in your address book

The Elements of Antivirus Internet Security

There are a number of different elements to antivirus Internet security:

• Install a firewall and turn it on.

• Use careful criteria to vet sites before you download anything from them.

• Do not open email or attachments on email that originates from anyone you do not know and/or from an organization you do not recognize.

• Regularly update your computer's operating system, as well as your software.

• Purchase software from trustworthy sources.

• Regularly back-up your data to removable media or an external drive so that you can recover your data if your computer becomes infected with a virus. You can use CDs, DVDs, flash drives, or external hard drives.

• Keep a bootable CD or DVD with a copy of your operating system in a safe place.

• Use one of the virus-tracking websites to keep track of current threats so you know what to look for.

• Install antivirus software appropriate for your system and keep it updated.

Recovery from a Computer Virus

If you have implemented a good program of antivirus Internet security, you may never have to recover from a computer virus, but if you do, you may be able to do it without too much, or maybe even any, loss of data. There are two possible approaches. One is to remove the malicious software. The other is to reinstall the system.

One important first step is to make sure that what is causing the trouble is in fact a computer virus. Sometimes people use the term virus broadly, but spyware, for example, is not a virus, and you may need an antispyware program to deal with it. Talking to a support person, either from your computer's manufacturer, the retailer who sold you the machine, or your IT department if you have access to one, may help you make the discernment about what exactly you are dealing with and the best approach to eradicating it.

Because of the nature of how viruses spread, it is particularly important to address a virus as soon as possible. Delay may mean that others are infected, not by your direct participation, but by means of your computer, and this is certainly something to avoid, if at all possible.

TrendMicro

Comodo

Computer Assoc.