Few things are as frustrating and time-consuming to deal with as an infected computers. Viruses sneak up on users, change settings and invite even more infections. Some are so stealthy that users don't even know that they have a virus, which is why an anti-virus program is prudent.
Microsoft has come a long way with security measures it offers to consumers. The Windows firewall is default, and users can download Microsoft Security Essentials for free. The two programs work well together, and Security Essentials is an alternative to the expensive anti-virus programs out there. You should turn on the firewall if you have no other protection, and you can do this from the "System and Security" section within the control panel. Windows lets you specify different firewall rules depending upon on your connection and network type, which is useful.
Microsoft Security Essentials is available from the official website. After installing the program, you'll see a simple interface. The program uses a reg, green and yellow color system to let you know the status of your system. Yellow indicates the need for a scan, while red is an alert of an infection. The "History" tab also contains quarantine information, and it's here where you can delete files. The program downloads updates every day; however, some people have expressed concern that Microsoft Security Essentials doesn't add zero-day threats quickly enough.
If you're not a fan of Microsoft's security options, you can download free anti-virus programs from the likes of Avast and AVG. Norton and Kaspersky also offer premium programs that include virus protection, email scanning, firewalls and even protection against identity theft if you opt for the Internet security suites. While anti-virus software now covers all sorts of malicious software, you might also run a third-party program to protect against and remove spyware. Spybot: Search and Destroy and Ad-Aware are two options. Spyware programs can be run simultaneously, but you should only install a single anti-virus program at once to prevent conflicts.
Although it might seem simple, logging in with a password goes a long way to protecting your computer. Not only does it deter unauthorized users who might have physical access to your computer, but it deters hackers. Of course, you should only download files from trusted sources and never click any suspicious links, even if they appear to come from people you know.
Computer security is a combination of common sense and capable software, neither of which don't require much effort.
Author Bio:
Eloise Hammond is a professional writer with 10+ years experience. She enjoys hiking, reading and spending time with her family.Also, check out Microsoft storesavings and http://www.findthecoupons.com/d/x/Walmart
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