Technology

The internet is a dangerous place, and yet we spend hours on it. There are so many viruses that can crawl into your computer, whether you are downloading videos, surfing the web, opening a document, or checking your emails. Viruses can be extremely detrimental to your computer because they can have all kinds of effects such as slowing your computer down, data can be stolen, and your hardware can even be completely erased. Therefore it is very important to get a quality anti-virus program that will protect your computer from these harmful effects.

Things to look for in an antivirus are:

1. PERFORMANCE:

The most important in product-selection. Your anti-virus program needs to do far more than block malware that has been flagged as dangerous. It also has to identify other potential threats and neutralize threats that are beginning to act maliciously.

2. FEATURES:

There are a lot of factors that make up an anti-virus product, and you need to make sure that the one you select has the right features for you. These features are:

• Manual Virus Scanning: a manual virus scan can detect and remove viruses that may have infected your PC.
• Anti-Spyware: Spyware can really damage your computer and slow it down, and can even steal your data or identity. A good program will stop that from happening.
• Real-time Antivirus: Monitors and scans continuously for virus activity. This is the top priority to look out for when comparing anti-virus programs.
• Virus Removal: Look to see how well the software actually removes the viruses it detects.
• Resource Usage: You want a program that takes as little CPU and memory as possible while actively protecting your PC.
• USB Virus Scanning: This is the ability and effectiveness of the program to automatically scan a USB/thumb drive for viruses.
• Installation: Your anti-virus program should install quickly and easily, even for the most inexperienced of computer users.
• User Interface: The anti-virus program should be easy to use, with settings that make sense and are well organized.

3. HELP AND SUPPORT:

Once you find an anti-virus software with the features and performance level that you are looking for, you should consider checking the technical support offered with the product. You should make sure that the software offers support both via email and toll-free phone calls, and that they are available around the clock. You also want to make sure that the tech support that is offered is effective, helpful, and and responsible.

Most computers today do come with some sort of anti-virus protection, but it is usually not sufficient and not the best performer. There are also free softwares. But the best ones tend to be the serious ones that cost money. So in order to truly protect your data as well as the quality of your computer, and your identity, it is highly recommended to buy and install the best antivirus software and ensure optimal protection. Optimal protection is key because, without an antivirus software, you could get your bank account hacked into if someone steals your identity and financial information. Imagine getting your facebook account hacked and accidentally downloading a virus that renders your new, expensive computer completely useless! Without anti-malware protection, you can be in danger of losing your entire music and photo collections. You would spend hundreds and thousands on house and health insurance, and compared to that, this protective software only costs $20 a year! The safety of your computer is just as important as the safety of your other possessions, if not more, and that is why it is important for you to get high quality, high performance anti-virus software. We recommend you get VIPRE Anti-Virus 2014, which is the number one software in the market today. While its installation may take longer, it can be done in just four clicks. It also does a pre-installation virus scan and updates virus definitions in the computer. In terms of virus protection tests, it has come out as the most consistent performer, offering better protection than most other softwares. It also does not slow down your PC and it has outstanding technical support! That would be our top choice, but feel free to check out other softwares and put them through this list to make sure they fit your standards. Protect your personal information, and get your antivirus software today!

Technology

If you’ve looked at the technology news lately you know cyber security breaches are a major problem. These last few months alone have shown us how top-tier companies like ebay and Microsoft can still be vulnerable to hackers and security breaches. The internet remains a very dangerous place. Here are some tips on how to stay safe online and keep your identity and computing devices from being hacked.

1. Apps Permissions This is especially important if you are using Android devices: make sure that you carefully read the list of permissions you give any apps that you download to your phone or tablet. Some apps request access to parts of your device that they have no business interfering with. Do some research into this app—find out who the developer is, what other people have to say about the developer, and why the app wants access to specific parts of your device.

2. Apply Updates and Change Your Passwords As Soon As Possible Most likely, by the time you’ve heard about a security breach, the company in question is already releasing a security update to fix the problem. Don’t wait to install it. The longer you don’t apply the latest protection against online threats, the greater your chances of being attacked. The same goes for your password: as soon as a company tells you to change it, do so.

3. Know How to Spot Secure URLs Check for the “https://” at the beginning of the website URL. If that prefix is missing it means your data is at risk if you enter it into that site. But look closely—do not enter information on sites that just begin with “http://” because they are not secure.

4. Don’t Share Details Over Email Let’s admit it, we’ve all been emailed by a Nigerian prince who just needs us to wire him enough money so he can unlock the millions of dollars he’s willing to share with us. Don’t be fooled, these are real scams aimed at defrauding you of your money and your identity. You should never share sensitive details such as bank information, passwords, credit card accounts, or Social Security numbers.

5. Keep Away from the Shady Wifi or Public Computer There are always going to be times when you need to use a different computer away from home. That makes sense when you’re in a jam, but that doesn’t mean you should make a habit of it. You will keep your identity more secure if you keep from logging in at the café too often.

6. Use Strong Passwords Strong passwords are a basic requirement. They’re a pain to remember but the best way to keep your accounts safe. Use a range of characters in your password that includes upper- and lowercase letters, special characters, and numbers. Sites that give you an indication of the strength level of the new password as you enter it are really helpful. And remember: never use the same password twice!