Best Anti Virus Downloads for Windows

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Why do I need Anti Virus protection?

     A computer virus is a parasitic program designed to spread itself to as many other computers as possible. Virus programs are intentionally written to enter a computer without the users’ permission or even their knowledge.

     What a virus does to your computer varies. Some present you with annoying messages, but some can destroy data and a few can even physically destroy your computer (of course these stop replicating themselves at that point, so they are rare).

Call it a virus, adware, spyware, worms, firewall attacks, spam, phishing or whatever you want. They're all just part of an annoying (and sometimes malicious) game, wasting the time of people trying to do their work. Like it or not, You must play the game, or chance losing your data (and time).

     Lately, the most predominant method of infection is through email. But, they can also arrive in files from a disk, memory sticks, CD's or through any type of network, including the internet.

     Each virus maker has unique reasons for creating a virus. Like an arsonist, who may enjoy watching the fire, or the fire trucks. They may want fame or even profits. Sometimes, I think many just want to see if they can. The virus maker has a similar array of motivations.

     Virus' spread at an exponential rate. This means, if each infected computer passed it on to only one other computer a day, it would look like:

Day	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15
Infected CPU's	1	2	4	8	1 6	3 2	6 4	1 2 8	2 5 6	5 1 2	1 0 2 4	2 0 4 8	4 0 9 6	8 1 9 2	1 6 3 8 4

     After only one month, the infections would be on 1,073,741,824 computers (more than a billion). Of course, some computers might infect hundreds a day instead of just one, while others infect less than one. While these number aren't perfectly accurate, you get the basic idea.

     When a virus is released, the designers always make sure to get around existing cures (otherwise, what's the point). It may take a couple days for Anti Virus people to notice it, then some time to create a cure.

     Yes, this means there is no cure for a short period of time. At an exponential infection rate, we need that cure as soon as possible.

Frequent updates to Windows Anti Virus downloads with the latest cures becomes absolutely essential

Creating a virus is illegal, isn't it?      Logically, creating a destructive virus should be illegal. Unfortunately, laws must exist before they can be enforced.      The nature of law requires very specific wording, but virus makers are inventive enough to find ways around the specific wording. A computer virus can be written and passed much quicker than any law.      Also, since the internet is international, the laws protecting us from internet destruction must also be international to be truly effective. Not all countries use computers as much as the USA, so in many cases, it really isn't their top priority to solve our computer problems.

The only real solution is to protect yourself with the best anti virus downloads

     Adware and Spyware are relatively new problems. Virus' were mostly developed in secrecy. People often picture a kid with nothing to do after school before their parents come home. A way to become famous, but not too famous. Adware and Spyware is a whole new game. Now, many of them even make a profit.

     One of the scariest items in the Spyware arsenal is the keystroke loggers. Even passwords and credit card numbers can be stolen through this malicious annoyance.

Obvious symptoms of Adware are those pesky pop-ups or your machine slows down

     Don't rush out and get a "Pop-Up Blocker." The Adware is already taking your resources to gather ads (that's why your machine is running slower). A pop-up blocker just uses more resources to block the pop-ups.

     Eventually, this process ends up giving all your resources to the Adware and the Pop-up blockers, leaving no resources to get your work done.

     Don't treat the symptoms. Eliminate the problem at the source.

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Best anti virus spyware downloads

     Getting rid of these annoyances is easy if you have good anti virus spyware downloads, that do it all.

     If you have separate tools, they may leave gaps between functions. Besides, most scanning tools do similar things, and having separate tools is redundant, takes more machine resources and slows down the computer.

     I recommend using AVG Internet Security Programs. It does a great job, and protects against all annoyances at once.

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Already Infected?

     Now, if you've been surfing without protection for a while, it's quite likely you are already infected. Some spyware and adware downloads are infections designed to make sure you can't install new anti virus protection. Some virus’ mess up Internet Explorer settings also.

     Spybot Search & Destroy provides a wonderful platform for removing problems. It doesn't require other programs or even an internet connection (except for updates). If your machine is really screwed up, you may have to download the program with another machine and install it from a CD. Spybot is one of the better free adware spyware downloads.

Why not just use free anti virus downloads?

     Like most free things, people don't give away their best stuff. They save the best for paying customers. Some of the free tools have wonderful qualities, but they leave out a feature or two, like automatic updates or active protection. This ensures that the full product worth more.

     If your machine uses email or anything requiring security, you should always have up to date virus protection. If you do online banking, I can't stress enough about having good protection!

     If your machine sits in the corner and nobody uses it much, then the free anti virus downloads should be fine. Make sure you have something though. Most computer anti virus downloads provide some protection. Since email is the predominant source of infections, don't use it for your email.

     Spam is email that really isn’t targeted to the reader. Anybody who receives email, knows spam when they see it. The simple response to spam is ‘delete!’

     Adware and Spyware sends junk mail to everyone. Postal junk mail (snail mail) is limited by a 42¢ cost per item. The internet is a bit different, but sending thousands of emails does take serious server resources. Most ISP's (Internet Service Providers) want extra for this huge expenditure of server time.

• Legitimate businesses pay their costs, then,
  work hard to target the audience who
  actually wants their product.
• Adware makers don't pay their costs, but,
  find ways to use other peoples resources.
  They really don't care if you want it or not!

     Many people would detest knowing their machine was acting as a "Zombie," participating in product ads they are unknowingly helping to spread.

     This is how Adware and Spam Email shows a profit with lousy conversion rates. It's a lot like borrowing someones postage meter without asking. With good Windows anti virus downloads for windows, you can keep your computer resources for yourself.

     The real problem with spam email is the shear volume. People ask their Internet Service Provider (ISP) to do an anti spam review and deletion. Unfortunately, they also complain if someone can’t get legitimate email to them. This leaves the ISP in the precarious position of deciding which emails are really spam.

Spam detection works best in 2 stages ISP deletes junk from known spammers, along with virus infected emails etc. User deletes stuff they personally don't want.

     Most ISP’s try to block absolute spam, but leave the rest for the customer to decide. It isn’t unusual during an ISP's anti spam review, to block many times more spam emails than legitimate email, and still have junk sneak through. Spammers are constantly innovating new ways to sneak junk into your inbox.

     An ISP should block email from known spam sources. You might think they should also block emails with certain word combinations. This becomes problematic. For instance, some customers have medical conditions requiring some of those pesky drug names. Deleting emails from their doctor could create problems much worse than spam.

     In response, most ISP’s give each email a spam score. As each email is checked, different problems add appropriately to the score. Once the score surpasses acceptable levels, they are marked or deleted.

Personal Anti Spam Review

     AVG Internet Security works for anti spam in outlook. You just need to set your message rules to send the spam messages to junk, or where ever you choose.

     For personal anti spam review, I like using Thunderbird Email. It allows you to program your spam filters. Each time you mark junk, Thunderbird remembers what you blocked and tries to block similar things later.

     Make sure you check your Thunderbird junk folder regularly. You might find messages you actually want in there. You need to unjunk the good messages. This also helps program the spam filters. I check and delete my junk folders daily, for simplicity.

     Phishing is a relatively new, high tech term for the Confidence Game. The phishers pretend to be someone they are not, then fool people into divulging personal information. Usually, the main concern about phishing involves identity theft or emptying your bank accounts.

     The best protection against phishing is common sense. If you get an email asking for personal information, be suspicious. Banks or IRS agents don't email you, unless they say they will. To check what they say, look up their website and check the information yourself or call them on the phone. Never click on the link provided in the email or call the phone number they have listed. Only go to the site you know is correct.

     Internet Explorer includes a phishing filter. It does help, so, keep your MS Updates current at all times!

Stop Firewall Probes

     What is a firewall probe? On your computer, many internet functions work through what are called ports. Each function has its own port, for instance SMTP (outgoing mail) is port 25 while port 110 is the POP3 (incoming mail).

     Once someone gets through your ports, there are lots of devious things they can do. If they get the right ones, they can even run programs. This can be really dangerous.

     There are about 65,000 port addresses altogether. Some are assigned to various companies or functions, and are legitimate. Many others are simply openings for devious people. A good firewall defines the appropriate openings, who is allowed to use that port, then blocks everything else.

     Starting with XP, Windows includes a built in Firewall. Of course, everyone knows this firewall, so any problems are discovered and shared rapidly. If you can get a better firewall, you should do so.

     Keeping safe on the internet requires following some basic guidelines.

• Get the best anti virus protection and keep it current
• Keep Microsoft Windows current using Windows Updates (Start, All Programs, Windows Updates)
• If something just doesn't look right, assume it isn't
• Legitimate Financial Institutions don't email, unless they've told you they will
• Just because they say they are ____, doesn't mean they really are _____.
• Stay out of bad internet neighborhoods

     AVG Internet Security Programs are trusted around the world. They include protection from Virus, Adware and Spyware downloads. It also includes a firewall and an anti spam filter.

• Simplicity: Easy to download, install and use
• Security: Daily automatic updates, certified and awarded detection technology
• Support: Technical support and new program versions included at no extra cost
• Price: Get 2 years for the price of 1 year of most competing products