Anti-virus

An, “antivirus” is just a word for a tool that protects your data and your PC against viruses, Trojans, botnets, rootkits, rogue security software, ransomware, and all types of malicious software. Actual viruses are the least of your worries, since they lay low to avoid detection.

“But I only use my PC to surf the Web,” you may say. “I don’t keep any personal information on it. Who cares if a virus or some bad program goes along for the ride?” Well, it’s not as simple as that.

A Trojan horse gets onto your system by pretending to be useful, but once inside the walls, it releases a malicious payload. You say you don’t store personal data? How about your email address—that’s about as personal as it gets. A Trojan might try to capture your email address and password, or insert itself into financial transactions to drain your bank account. That’s bank robbery with no need for a mask or a gun.

Here’s another unwelcome possibility. If the bad guys manage to infest your PC with malware that gathers passwords and personal information, they might well parlay that data into full-blown identity theft. You might not know a thing about it until you get the bill for a credit card account you never opened, or find that there’s a lien on your house

Ransomware protection

How would you like to turn on your PC and see a message demanding that you pay ransom to regain access? Ransomware comes in many varieties, none of them pleasant. Even if you pay up, there’s no guarantee you’ll get your data back. You might have to reformat and start over.

The best protection against loosing your data to a ransomware attack is good and regular backups. Check the backup section for good backup strategy.

Help Is Available Are you convinced? Want to install antivirus protection? Never fear; we’ve identified the best antivirus products. You can protect yourself and your data from viruses and other malware.