Reasons You Need Antivirus on Your PC

The Benefits of Having Anti-virus Protection

The real benefit of anti-virus protection is directly related to the consequences of not having anti-virus software. The internet is not a secure place by any means, and even the most tech-savvy users have a relatively high likelihood of downloading some form of malware or becoming the victim of an identity-stealing scam just by going online occasionally.

Learning just a little bit about the consequences of not having anti-virus protection should be enough to convince everyone they need it. Here are a few important reasons to get top-quality anti-virus protection for your computer:

Protection from Viruses

Viruses are the most well known computer attackers, and they can do all sorts of damage. There are many types of viruses that each have the ability to compromise PCs in different ways. Most typically, users acquire a virus by downloading questionable files that are falsely presented as other things in an email scam, or by visiting a phishing website.

While you may think you know better and that you won't download corrupt files or visit scamming sites, it's important to remember that hackers are creating trickier and trickier viruses every day. Some viruses pretend to be bogus anti-virus software; others come in email messages that are ostensibly from a friend, albeit that friend was an unknowing and unwilling sender; still others come from imposter bank websites or other important institutions with which you really are affiliated. In short, many people who consider themselves tech savvy have been tricked into allowing viruses to access their PCs.

Once viruses have infected your computer, they can drastically slow down your processing speeds, delete critical and important personal files and images, and in the worst case, cause irreparable physical damage to your computer. Viruses can cost you thousands in computer-replacement costs and cause you to lose very important documents and photos. The best anti-virus software can thwart 99.99 percent of known viruses.

Protection from Spyware and Identity Theft

Spyware is a kind of software that is specifically designed to infect your computer and spy on you. This means the spyware seeks and steals all your personal information stored on your computer. This can include financial data, passwords, social security numbers, credit card numbers and anything else the spyware can detect. Some spyware is so sophisticated that it can record and save data in real time; this kind of spyware runs silently run in the background, waiting for you to buy something online. As you enter your credit card number to pay for your purchase, the spyware records and saves your payment information, and often transfers your personal and sensitive data to its designer – a hacker in a remote location.

These hackers use the information to make purchases with your credit card, perform banking transactions and anything else they can get away with. Identity theft is a major headache for victims, and it can cause you to lose money and receive negative marks on your credit report. The best software that offers anti-virus protection also protects you from spyware.

Protection from Spam

Spam is incredibly annoying when you're bombarded with emails and ads that you have no interest in whatsoever. What many people do not realize is that if you're bombarded with spam that seems to come from nowhere every time you log in, that spam is most likely the result of a virus stored on your computer. Since anti-virus protection software keeps viruses at bay, installing security software should result in a drastic reduction of spam.
There are many types of anti-virus protection applications to choose from, and the best products offer nearly complete shielding from viruses, spyware and spam. Some of our top-rated anti-virus protection software suites are Bit Defender Antivirus Plus, Kaspersky Anti-Virus and Webroot AntiVirus.

How Do Computers Get Viruses?

Computer viruses and other malware are designed to spread. They jump from computer to computer, using network connections to infiltrate a computer's files and install software that steals your money and personal information.

To many, the spread of computer viruses seems like a mystery. If you've ever asked yourself, "How do computers get viruses?" you'll find your answers below.

Most Malware Is Installed by Users

Most computers have security patches installed to prevent viruses from downloading themselves onto a computer without the user's permission. However, fake antivirus software has a way of tricking people into installing it by making them think it's a friendly program. Here are some of the ways you might accidentally install a virus:

• Via Download
  Computer viruses are often present in download packages for seemingly legitimate software or files. You can perform a virus scan on all downloads using antivirus software. Be especially careful if you are downloading insecure files uploaded by a user, such as pirated video and music files. For the most part, you should avoid downloading files like this entirely.
   
• Via Email
  Spam email is a common way for a virus to spread, as these emails may contain attachments or links. Never open an attachment or a link from an unfamiliar email. If you have to download anything from an email, make sure your email provider or antivirus software scans the attachment for viruses.

Don't make the mistake of trusting an email just because it seems to be from someone you know. Your friend may already have the virus, which is then spreading itself via email without them knowing. As a general rule, if an email looks at all suspect, don't click any links or open any attachments!

• Via Bad Links
  Bad links appear on all kinds of websites and in online advertisements. They might disguise themselves as something you're looking for, such as a needed webpage or download. A bad link might tell you it is going to download Adobe Flash on your computer, but it might just download a virus instead. To keep your computer safe, always download necessary files directly from the official provider or on an official download site.

To avoid bad links, never click on links appearing in pop-ups or other advertisements. If you accidentally click on one, just make sure you cancel any download prompts that appear. Antivirus software will protect you from any virus downloads you may have initiated.

Other Malware Sneaks In

Your computer can still become infected with a virus without you ever clicking on a bad link or initiating an installation. This is a rare occurrence, especially if you keep your operating system up to date by installing updates regularly, but it does happen. A virus built into a website can install itself in the background while you browse the internet. As long as you are connected to a network, you are always vulnerable to a virus.

The best way to protect yourself from computer viruses is by being careful. Avoid suspicious links and downloads, keep your computer's OS up to date, and install only trusted antivirus software.

Symptoms of an Infected Computer

Do you know how to tell if your computer has a virus? Sometimes there's no way to be sure, but often computers give hints that something isn't right. Check your computer for the symptoms below to make sure it is secure and not at risk from a virus.

1. Slower Internet and Processing
A slower computer doesn't necessarily mean you have a virus, but if it's a sudden enough change in speed, it may be worth checking out. Use a speed test to check your internet speed and use your computer's task manager to measure processing power. If either seem slower than usual, perform a scan with your antivirus software.

2. Unexpected Computer Behavior
Viruses can do all kinds of strange things to your computer. If your computer stops responding to clicks, decides to open files on its own, scrolls or acts as if a key's been pressed when it hasn't, you may be experiencing computer virus symptoms. Your computer shouldn't seem like it's thinking for itself.

3. Sudden Freezes & Crashes
Because viruses damage your hard drive, they can cause your computer to experience a catastrophic failure. If you're lucky enough that your computer still turns on after a crash, make sure to run antivirus software to determine whether a virus was the cause.

4. Error Messages
Your computer knows something is wrong before you do. One of the most noticeable symptoms of a computer virus is the sudden appearance of pop-up messages warning you about missing system or application files. Research messages by putting them in a search engine to see if you can diagnose a virus.

5. Advertisements
It's common to see ads as you browse the internet, but if you start seeing them when you're not actively browsing, that is a telltale sign of a virus. Do not click on these ads, even if they say they are for antivirus software.

6. Outgoing Emails
Viruses try to spread themselves by email. If you notice emails in your sent box that you didn't send, you probably have a virus. If you get an email from a friend that seems suspicious, they might have a virus. Do not click on any links or open any attachments in questionable emails.

7. Missing or Extra Files
Keep track of the size of your hard drive. A virus may install copies of itself or unwanted files on your computer. Viruses also delete files unexpectedly. When you start seeing something strange or missing, it's time to run a virus scan.

8. Hardware and Accessory Problems
If you suddenly have a problem with your computer's display, such as mixing pixels or color problems, this can be a sign of a virus messing with your system. A networked printer may also start acting up if it becomes infected.

Remember, your computer will not always show symptoms if it's infected. Always perform regular system checks and virus scans to make sure your computer is clean. Also, practice preventive care. Never click on unfamiliar links in emails or pop-up ads to keep your computer safe from exposure.