You may need to purchase a subscription to get automatic updates. There are several good free programs available, or use your operating system’s tools (such as Windows Defender).

Eventually these programs will slow your computer performance down to a crawl. If you don’t guard against these those annoying pop-ups will be the least of your problem. With the amount of spyware and adware attempting to download to your computer an anti-spyware/adware program is a must-have security tool. Spyware and adware cause pop-up ads to appear on your screen or track your online activities. For conveniences you can use settings in the software to set up automatic updates and scans. Also, be sure to run a scan of your computer on a regular basis. You must frequently update the virus definitions to deal with the latest viruses. It’s critical that you install an antivirus program, such as those from McAfee, Symantec, or Trend Micro.

People are coming up with new viruses every day, so it’s important that you use software that is up to date with the latest virus definitions and protects your computer from them. Third party firewall programs include ZoneAlarm and Norton Personal Firewall.Ĭomputer viruses are small programs that can be downloaded to your computer and cause damage to your data or operating system. Microsoft Windows offers built in firewall protection, as do some other operating systems. Depending on the settings you choose, a firewall will reject unsolicited requests coming to your computer, or will verify with you whether a request should be blocked or allowed. Don’t use the Internet without having a firewall turned on. If you use Microsoft Windows set up Windows Update (click Start/Control Panel/Check for Updates) to automatically check for and download the latest updates.Ī firewall puts restrictions on what information can come through to your computer. Download these updates (commonly referred to as patches) on a regular basis. When software companies discover security gaps in their software, they make updates available to fix them. Operating system and other software updates Use these programs and keep them up to date so they can defend you against the latest threats. There are several software products and settings you can make that will help alert you to or protect you from certain kinds of technology attacks such as malware, viruses, and so on.

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