|
There are many myths when it comes to using
antivirus software. The first myth that users need to get past is that
just because you have antivirus software, that doesn't mean you aren't at
risk to getting a virus. Antivirus software is only as good as the
company developing the software, AND the user using the software (you).
New viruses are released into the wild daily. And before the antivirus
companies can develop protection for each of those new viruses, someone has
to get the virus first and then report it. When you come to think of
it, it is amazing that these antivirus software companies can release fixes
for new viruses within such a short time-frame. From the minute a new
virus is found, most of these organizations have new updates available
within 24-48 hours. Amazing!
Ok, so you purchased the software, installed it, and now you think you
are safe. Nope, you aren't. You have to keep up with the
antivirus updates, or your computer will remain to be susceptible to new
viruses. Sure, it will protect you from all the viruses that they knew
of when they packaged the software originally, but normally when you
get that software home and install it, it will be overdue for an update.
Most antivirus software provides a very upfront and center approach to
updating the antivirus definitions, so it shouldn't be too difficult to
find. All of them also provide an automatic update method that allows
the software to update automatically at specified intervals without your
intervention. This is a very nice feature. Keep in mind, the
longer you wait to update your antivirus, the longer it will take to
download the updates. If you update your software at least once a
week, then it shouldn't become too burdensome to download.
It is true that some antivirus software may overstep its bounds.
Although they are looking to provide the absolute best protection possible,
you may start to see limitations in what you do on your computer. One
of these 'limitations' is in your email attachments. They may become hidden,
so you can't get to them. This protection feature also comes with the
out-of-the-box Microsoft Outlook settings, so make sure you know what is
limiting you before you try to resolve the issue. The
following link is for Microsoft's support area on their website, explaining the
details of what is blocked, and why. Take a look at all the "Unsafe"
program extensions at the bottom of the page. Ouch...
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;290497 (opens in
new window)
You may notice that your computer runs slower after installing antivirus
software. This is because the software is setup to scan ALL file
activity by default. This means that if you open a file, save a file,
or even copy/paste a file from one location to another, the antivirus checks
the file again, and again, and again. Normally you don't need this
level of protection. Once the file is checked, it should be safe for
a while. You should do a full scan of all files on your computer with
the latest antivirus updates.
Most antivirus products allow you to setup to only check the files when
opened, and to not check them when accessed. This gives you sufficient
protection.
Now, how much are you willing to pay for the protection of your computer?
Some people say that the annual subscriptions you have to pay for to get the
updates are too much. Antivirus software companies work hard to
provide regular updates to their products, because their reputation for
protection relies on their product providing as much protection as possible.
Somebody has to pay the employees to develop the updates, test them, make
them available, and support them. Thinking back to the previous
statements made about how quickly they provide fixes, and how easy it is for
the software to update automatically, an annual
fee of about $30 or so sounds pretty reasonable. Let's look at it this
way, if you did get a virus and it took you a few hours to fix it, or you
had to pay an administrator to fix your issue, how much would that cost in
time and labor?
|
Phone: (717) 932-5395
Phone: (717) 932-5395