Ensuring Security for your Personal Computer
In the past, it was easy to ensure your personal computer’s security. Through a simple virus scan, one could detect what was invading their PC system and get rid of it in a click. However, gone are the days when only viruses would attack computer systems. Nowadays, computer owners and users have to set up defenses against new system invasions such as phishing, identity theft and fraud. Not only this, as personal information is compromised, so is privacy as more individuals on the internet bombard email addresses with unwanted spam.
The good news is there are ways by which every user can protect themselves from these intrusions and attacks. The following tips can guide you on how you can protect yourself from these security risks.
First, if you plan on purchasing a new personal computer, you’ll discover that it is standard now to have a pre-installed security suite in place. The installed security suite will probably give you general protection in terms of dealing with a variety of threats that may come up. However, these security suites are also installed for a limited time only, so they will actively protect your PC for a certain trial period until you decide whether or not to register the full suite, or switch to another. So use the suite that is available for the limited period, try out its features, and find out if it’s the right one for you. If not, then get rid of it and try a different suite.
Secondly, in this competitive technological market, there are a variety of security products to choose from, if you want to switch from your pre-installed suite. It is important to keep in mind that some of these products may possibly be malicious software (or malware), so it is advisable to check out more trusted product brands on the market.
Third, if you are surfing the net and a message suddenly appears on your browser that there is a detected virus on your system, by all means, do not click on the message. Sometimes these messages themselves will open up your system to even more attacks and unwanted malware. Be conscientious when browsing the internet.
Fourth, don’t trust only your instincts when picking the right security suite for your PC. Check out online reviews, forums, and tech blogs on the different security software that you may be interested in. Other users and customers are the best sources of reliable information about the products you may want to buy. The following are some dependable security suite packages that are worth looking at: BitDefender; Kaspersky; CA Internet; F-Secure; Microsoft Windows Live OneCare; McAfee; PC Tools; Symantec Norton; and Trend Micro.
Fifth, keep updated with the security software trends and products. Interesting magazines to read up on these topics would be Consumer Reports or PC Magazine. You can find subscriptions of these publications online or in print. You can even subscribe to either for no more than a month and decide if it is worth continuing afterward. You can even save money by getting a better deal by making an annual subscription. In the end, you can stay informed about technical matters and make better decisions about software purchases for your PC.
Sixth, keep your software suite updated in terms of security updates as well as registration updates. There have been numerous times when customers experience less protection on their computers due to their own negligence in bringing their security suites up to date or failing to register their software on time by not paying before the trial period expires. It must be remembered that a good security suite does not come for free. There are costs incurred by software companies in the development and improvement of the security software that you buy. Paying for a good product now will also pay the way for a more improved product in the future.
Seventh, for threats caused by phishing, check out the capabilities of your current browser to help you maximize your PC defense system. In browsers like Explorer, Firefox and McAfee Site Advisor, great add-ons can be used to help the user. But the bottom line is nothing can protect your PC more than the kind of choices you make. So be careful in opening up suspicious emails or clicking on banners and messages that you are not sure about.
In closing, every PC owner and user is susceptible to virus threats and malicious intrusions by other individuals on the internet. Pick the right security suite to deal with these threats and make wise decisions in the way that you browse the Web. This way, you can minimize the anguish of a hard drive crash or losing important information in the future.
Download your anti virus protection software here.
