Anti-virus Software: What to Look For

Computer viruses are bad news for the computer owner. Viruses lurk on Web sites and contaminated emails and are designed to infect a computer through electronic contact. Some viruses are capable of destroying files on the computer user’s hard drive, while others corrupt the operating system and shut down or crash the computer. More than four out of five (81 percent) of U.S. consumers say they are using anti-virus software, according to a recent study conducted for the Business Software Alliance by Forrester Custom Consumer Research. That still leaves nearly 20 percent unprotected.

Anti-virus software is an inexpensive solution to protect your computer from potential online risks. It is easy to install and can usually be purchased at a retail store or online from a name brand company for under $50.

Most critical is that the anti-virus software you purchase has an automatic update feature. New versions of old viruses appear daily and the computer has to be “vaccinated” regularly against the new variant. After you install their software, the anti-virus companies download to your computer a definition file for the variant. This process automatically updates the anti-virus software. It now recognizes the variant and protects against it. The anti-virus software company provides periodic updates of their virus definition files for download. 

As part of the purchase price, anti-virus software companies usually continue to provide automatic updates for up to a year or two. Then, the companies typically charge a subscription fee to extend the updating feature. The cost of the subscription hovers around or slightly below the purchase price — a small amount to pay for protection against viruses.  

Anti-virus software monitors arriving and departing email for viruses and automatically quarantines infected files. This software also scans files on the hard drive for the same purpose. It is recommended to set the anti-virus software to automatically scan the hard drive on a weekly basis.

Recently, some of the anti-virus software companies began selling all-in-one bundles of anti-virus, anti-spyware, and firewall software. These packages may be purchased for less than $100. Whether you purchase a bundled package or a standalone product, make sure the virus software has the automatic update feature. Don’t hesitate to ask your local computer retailer for suggestions.