Benefits of Having Antivirus Protection

BY: SAFEBYTES SOFTWARE

The internet is a very insecure, malicious and dangerous environment. Even more tech-savvy, experienced computer users are at a high risk of becoming a victim of identity-theft or tricked into downloading malware just by getting on the internet.

 Knowing about the consequences of using a computer without an ant-virus protection should make a good enough point to convince every computer user that they need protection.

Virus Protection

Viruses are known as the most common threat to computers. There are many different kinds of viruses and they infect computers in many different ways.  Typically, a user will download an infected file that spreads the virus throughout your PC. These files are usually downloaded by the victim by clicking on a link in an email or by visiting a phishing website. Some viruses will come as email messages from a supposed friend, others pretend to be anti-virus software’s, and many times they will pose as imposter websites such as a bank where you are an account holder.

Virus ProtectionWhile you may feel that you are a savvy computer user and won’t have trouble avoiding malicious emails and websites, it is very important to understand that hackers are a very advanced group of computer users and they are usually multiple steps ahead of the latest computer protection systems. Once a virus gets a hold of your computer it can wreak havoc. A virus can slow down your processor, delete important and crucial images and files, and cause damage to your PC. Dealing with the repercussions of a virus can set you back thousands of dollars in associated costs with computer-replacement. Even worse, items such as family photos and documents are priceless and a virus can delete those items forever.

Spyware and Identity TheftSpyware is software that is created to enter your PC and spy on your whereabouts. Spyware will seek out and steal personal, sensitive information that’s on your computer. Spyware steals data such as social security numbers, financial data, passwords, and credit card numbers. Some types of spyware are so sophisticated that it can record data and send it to the attacker in real time. Spyware runs in the background and it quietly waits for you to enter sensitive information on your computer, such as when you buy something online, it records that information and then sends it to the attacker who is usually in a remote location. Hackers will then make purchases using your credit or debit card and make fraudulent transactions and/or steal your identity.  Identity theft can cause you to have money stolen from you and receive derogatory marks on your credit report. Any great anti-virus software will also protect you from spyware.

Conclusion

Anti-virus protection is often seen as an unnecessary expense but ensuring that proper anti-virus protection is installed on your machine is what every computer user should focus on immediately after buying a new computer. You can save yourself thousands of dollars, countless hours of time, and a lot of stress an aggravation by taking simple preventative measures.