One of the most common causes of computer failures, data loss & even financial loss is the lack of security software or expired security software on your computer. It is an issue which is often overlooked and can have dire consequences.

 

What Is a Computer Virus? Computer viruses are small software programs that are designed to spread from one computer to another and to interfere with computer operation & perform malicious tasks. These days there are so many different types of viruses. A virus is usually hidden, and can do a number of things, as it relates to the health of the computer. A few examples are provided below:

 

 Make a computer run slowly

 

 Prevent computers from booting up

 

 Damage parts of the system or amend how the system operates without the owner's knowledge

 

 Be used to steal personal information (Identity Theft)

 

 Move from machine to machine on a network

 

 Attack other machines using your computer as a host

 

 Send out unauthorized messages

 

So, like a human virus a computer virus can be dangerous and possibly infectious to other computers. They can be spread between computers, and can also be transported via email. It is not limited to software however, as they can also be transported via USB drives and other types of media.

 

Where Do Computer Viruses Come From? Computer viruses are usually malicious computer programs written in order to damage other people's machines or steal information or even cash. They are usually highly skilled programmers who have decided to use their skills in a negative manner. Some viruses are written as an "ego" boost. In other words, some programmers write these things just to prove that they can hack into a major site or obtain private information. However, there are also criminal programmers who have a much more devious intention.

 

What Types of Virus Are There? Sometimes the definition of what constitutes a virus is not clearly defined. In general, a virus almost always damages files on a computer. Some other types of malicious software such as spyware are used to steal information from the user but may not damage the computer. Types of virus include:

 

 Worms: These are programs which copy themselves to other computers on a network. They tend to slow things down as they consume more and more bandwidth or computer resources.

 

 Trojans: Performs functions (sometimes malicious) on the computer without the knowledge of the user (Think of the horse of Troy)

 

 Malware: Technically, this is not classed as a virus. It is software used to spy on computer user's activities and collect personal information. More commonly known as "spyware".

 

What is a Firewall? A firewall is a software program or piece of hardware that helps screen out hackers, viruses, and worms that try to gain access to your computer via the Internet. 

 

What Does Antivirus & Firewall Software Do? Antivirus software continuously scans files on your computer as you access them or looking for certain patterns that may indicate the presence of malicious software. Antivirus software looks for patterns based on the signatures or definitions of known infections. New viruses are coming out all the time and it is the job of the Antivirus software to keep up with the latest threats. This is achieved by daily updates of the antivirus database signatures or definitions.

 

Antivirus Software is Vital! Not having Antivirus on a computer is like inviting a criminal into the home or having an uninvited guest! They then wreak havoc or steal from the owner. The Internet made it much easier to distribute viruses and there are thousands of threats. To be safe from these it is vital to police the computer and have it protected at all times. The Importance of Antivirus Software must not be underestimated.

 

Which Antivirus Should I Use? There are many vendors who produce Antivirus software, and deciding which one to choose can be confusing. At Technical Difficulties, we have performed thousands of virus removals and continually provide security solutions to both our home & business customers, so we are aware of the threats that are out there and know the best ways to combat them. Through research & hands on experience we have come to know which Antivirus products consistently provide the best protection. As such, we have compiled a list of the best Antivirus Vendors below with links to their subsequent products.