How To Choose the Best Antivirus Software

The number of new computer viruses is rising every year and they are getting more malicious than before. In 2003, 7 new viruses were unleashed every day. In 2004, more than 10,000 new computer viruses were identified, many of them have several variants. Computer viruses, computer worms and Trojan horses spread through the network by sharing diskettes, downloading files from the internet and email attachments. To protect your computer, always use the best antivirus software from reputable publishers and update it regularly. Do not open suspicious files or attachments even if they come from people in your address book.

The Best AntiVirus Software usually have several characteristics:

1) They come from well known reputable publishers. Be wary if you have never heard of the name of the antivirus programs or the software publishers. Do not run any free downloads or free scans unless you have researched about the software publishers.

Installing a poorly designed program or one which is accompanied by hidden applications (such as spyware/adware) will do more harm than good to your computer. They may damage your system, create security holes and give you a false sense of security.

2) The software are user friendly, i.e. they are easy to install and easy to use.

3) They provide rich features, including real time protection, stopping computer viruses, worms and Trojan horses before they infect the computer, scanning of incoming and outgoing email, instant messages, and employing advanced worm stopping and script stopping technology.

4) The software publishers update their detection database frequently and release new version regularly. The antivirus software should have the option of automatic update.

5) Provide good and prompt technical support, such as live message, email and phone support.

Computer viruses are just one of the IT security problems, hackers and spyware / adware are two other major threats. Although antivirus programs can now detect and remove some spyware programs, they cannot stop hacker attacks, nor can they detect most of the spyware programs which are usually installed with other applications or free downloads.