In today’s modern, technology-driven world, most of us run our entire lives through our devices. Work, entertainment, shopping, social interaction, and more are increasingly accomplished via the digital world. With the popularity and widespread use of computers/devices in our daily lives, you may be surprised to learn that most computer users overlook a key component of online interaction: security. Any device connected to the internet is vulnerable to viruses, phishing, scams, spyware, malware, and other threats. If you don’t know anything about viruses and how to remove them, make sure to read about the best trojan removers.
There is always someone looking to exploit a vulnerable system—whether it’s with malicious intent or not—so using an antivirus program is vital to staying safe online. Regardless of your device or operating system, selecting an antivirus solution from a well-known and reputable company can keep your family safe, prevent fraud and potentially save you money in the long run. Below are five reasons why you should consider using an antivirus program with your operating system:
1. They help you protect yourself from phishing emails and scams
“Congratulations! You’ve won $2000. All we need is a 10% deposit to secure your winnings…” We’ve all seen this email. Someone you’ve never met just inherited millions and wants to share. An attractive person from upstate wants to meet up with you for a date. There’s a virus on your computer–click here to fix it! PayPal needs to verify your information, but the name of the website is misspelled and the link redirects you to a destination that is decidedly not PayPal. All of these are prominent phishing scams intended to compromise or steal personal information. Mostly presented in email form, they can also arrive via instant messaging, social media, text message or even browser hijacking. A powerful and feature-rich antivirus software watches for these types of emails, guarding against the threat they pose while simultaneously addressing other security concerns across your system.
2. Improve your computer’s overall performance
Nothing is worse than a slow computer or mobile device. Malware tends to take up a substantial amount of system resources, often resulting in the bogging down of memory and making the ability to use your computer nearly impossible. Attempting to finish a report or spreadsheet with your system moving at a snail’s pace is frustrating and could be the symptom of malware present on your system.
So, what can you do to fix a performance or speed problem on your computer? In addition to keeping your computer updated and avoiding malicious websites, tweaking your antivirus settings (and updating virus definitions) to regularly scan for malware will help prevent viruses from
3. Protect your kids and family from dangerous websites
Dangerous websites are a relatively common problem. Sometimes a website may look legitimate, but on closer inspection turns out to be either a convincing fake or a disingenuous page. Protecting your family–especially young children–isn’t always easy. Thankfully, there are some antivirus programs loaded with the ability to Identify and warn users about potentially dangerous, malicious or untrustworthy sites in real-time. The software will display an icon next to the link in the search engine results, social media, text, email or other points. In this manner, the software ends up protecting users without exposing them to danger.
4. Safeguard your data
Antivirus software is extremely useful when it comes to safeguarding data on your devices (including desktop, laptop and mobile). Some viruses and malware completely destroy your data, slow down your entire system and have a tendency to constantly crash your device. Worse, they allow spammers to send email through your account, potentially trapping your friends, family and colleagues with phishing scams of their own. It’s all one vicious cycle that never lets up unless you have some kind of defense. Antivirus will scan files and incoming email for viruses, deleting malicious software before they can become an issue. While browsing the internet, your antivirus will alert you to suspicious and untrustworthy websites that may compromise your data. You certainly can’t go wrong with the data protection an antivirus provides.
5. Prevent payment fraud while shopping online
Online shopping is both wonderful and convenient. Of course, it’s also a prime target for scams and phishing attempts. Real-time monitoring via antivirus can help spot potential threats before your information is compromised. Through monitoring and safety warnings, a robust antivirus software provides peace of mind that your financial information is safe and secure while you shop online.
