Will One Antivirus Program Take Care of Your Security Needs?

Bvs1216 uses Microsoft Security Essentials. He asked the Reply Railway line forum if he needs to supplement it for extra protection.

That all depends on what rather supplement you'Re looking for. You only motivation one antivirus computer programme, and Microsoft Security department Essentials fills that role. But an antivirus course of study International Relations and Security Network't the solely kind of security software system you may need.

Don't comprise misled by the term antivirus program. These programs don't just protect you from viruses (which, technically tongued, are passé, anyway). They protect you from Trojans, worms, spyware, rootkits, and all sorts of malware. As the terminal figure is in general used, an antivirus program is computer software that loads automatically when you boot, then stays in the background, protecting you against malware right away.

But no software is perfect, thusly information technology's a good idea every hebdomad or two to run down for malware with another program. But you don't want some other antivirus programme; two of these running in the scop at entirely times, doing the Saame job, is asking for trouble. You need an on-exact malware digital scanner–a program that only runs when you launch information technology and scans only if when you ask IT to. I commend either SUPERAntiSpyware operating theatre Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, operating theatre both.

You also need a firewall that can handicap for suspicious packages going in and out of your computer. Windows has its own firewall, only Windows 7 is the first version where I actually felt I could corporate trust it. If you'atomic number 75 using XP operating theatre Vista, you mightiness want to consider the Comodo Firewall.

There are other types of security software program you might want, as well. If you need to protect feisty files, consider TrueCrypt. And Password Dependable rear help you safely manage your passwords.

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Contributing Editor program Lincoln Spector writes about technology and cinema. Email your technical school questions to him at answer@pcworld.com , Beaver State post them to a community of helpful folks on the PCW Answer Line forum . Follow Lincoln on Twitter , or sign away to the Answer Line newssheet , e-armoured weekly.