The average user gives little thought to securing their computer, but even if you’re just surfing the web a few hours a day, a good anti-virus program is a must. Without one, anyone can access your credit card info, view your bank information, or even steal your identity. Fortunately, this can all be prevented with the use of a good anti-virus program. If your computer is currently unprotected consider trying one of the following five programs before taking your computer to a repair shop.
McAfee AntiVirus Plus
McAffee AntiVirus is a great program for beginners because it offers protection against a wide range of common viruses. This includes Trojans, rootkits, spyware and more. It’s also a great first program because of its ease to install and use; all users must do is click a button. The program can be downloaded for free, but requires users to pay $24.99 after their initial 30-day trail is up.
Avast Free AntiVirus
For those looking for a free program to try, Avast Antivirus is the way to go. This program also scans for basic viruses and malware, as well as offering an easy to use “Smart Scan” option for beginners. The real plus to Avast AntiVirus, however, is it’s new Home-Network scanner. This allows users to scan their WiFi network for any problems that may be caused by potential hackers. Avast also includes browser cleanup option, which will remove any annoying plugins that may be slowing down your web browser.
AVG AntiVirus
Another great program to try is AVG AntiVirus. While the free download does take longer to scan your computer than those listed above, AVG AntiVirus offers enough options to fulfill most everyone’s everyday security needs. The program will run in the background, warning users if they go to harmful websites or open potentially dangerous emails.
Ad-Aware AntiVirus+
Those who are dead-set on surfing the web while scanning their computer will love Ad-Aware AntiVirus. Unlike AVG, users will have to manually launch this program to scan their computer for problems, but the small 1.96MB size means it won’t cause any additional lag while it’s being run.
Kingsoft PC Doctor
PC Doctor differs from other virus programs in that, not only does it protect computers from possible threats, but also provides users with suggestions on how to speed up their machines. If the program fails to fix the underlying issues, users can also contact their computer repair company for additional support.
At the end of the day, any basic antivirus program is better than none, but the above five offer the best protection. Not only are they easy to use, but also scan for a wide range of problems, almost guaranteeing to fix any problems your computer is having. Protect yourself and your life online!
About the Author
“Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most her time hiking, biking and gardening. For more information on remote technology support visit iTOK or contact Brooke via Twitter @BrookeChaplan.”
