If you run a Windows operating system it is necessary for you toinstall an antivirus program and keep the virus definitions for itupdated!
Even people running a MAC OS should install and maintain an antivirus program.If a MAC machine receives an infected email it may not directly affect the MAC.However, if the email is sent to an unprotected PC running Windows it willinfect that machine.
When a virus tries to enter your PC, often through an infected e-mail, theantivirus program checks it against the list of all known viruses. If yourvirus definitions are up to date, the antivirus program identifies the virusand quickly deletes or quarantines it.
If your virus definition list is out of date, the antivirus program may knowabout the newest viruses and if one of them tries to enter your PC theantivirus program lets it pass into your PC!
If you do not have an antivirus program, install one now. Run a virus scan thatwill identify and rid your PC of any viruses, worms, and Trojan Horses! If youput it off, it is just a matter of time before one of these nasty programs getsinto your PC and causes havoc!
There are free antivirus programs available on the internet. In general, Istick with the paid antivirus programs due to the effort required to do theresearch and development required to stay ahead of all the new viruses, worms,Trojan horses.
I have used both Symantec's Norton Antivirus and McAfee's VirusScan programsand they both work well.
Symantec has been in business since 1982 and their Norton Antivirus program isvery popular and powerful. When it is first installed it scans your entire PCand eliminates all the malware it finds. After this the Liveupdate featureautomatically keeps your PC protected against the latest threats!
Important: Norton Antivirus 2006has been designed for Windows 2000 and XP only. If you are running 98 or ME youshould install Norton Antivirus 2005.Both are available at the linkbelow:
After McAfee's VirusScan is installed it checks and deletes allknown viruses, worms, spyware and Trojan Horses from your PC. After that it'sSilent Updating feature downloads virus definition updates to your PC on acontinuing basis to insure that your PC is always protected from the growinglist of known threats.