You probably know you need internet security software for your computer. Why do smartphones and tablets need protection? Or open the wrong email, you might be exposed to a drive-by download that automatically installs a malicious file on your mobile device. Does Norton protection slow down my computer? But when you consider that roughly 4.3% of cybercrimes involve damages to PC resulting from online downloads of infected content over the internet, you are looking at a computed $17 billion in annual losses due to malware and virus infection. (a play on words which means to perform certain measures to protect your computer). Be sure do a. Five (Free) Things You Can Do to Protect Your Computer 17 November,2008 The downside of living in a time that allows us to connect to an infinite amount of information is that any kid with a computer can access it. This is why it's important to do everything you can to protect your computer. The best way to guard against malware is to install antivirus software, such as.
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- What Should I Download To Protect My Computer Windows 10
- What Should I Download To Protect My Computer Screen
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You really can protect your PC with free software, but there's a price. Multiple free security programs usually aren't as easy to use as one pricey suite. Your less likely to get decent support (perhaps I should say even less likely). And they lack features like antispam and child protection which you may or may not need. All of the companies that give away security programs sell more feature-rich versions, which come with better support and additional features.
On the other hand, they're free. And they have less overhead than the big suites, so they won't slow down your PC as much.
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What do you need? First and foremost, a good firewall (the one that comes with Windows doesn't qualify) and real-time antivirus protection. (The term antivirus is somewhat misleading. In their current versions, these programs protect you from all sorts of malware, not just viruses. See 'Is It a Virus?' for more on the terminology.) It's also a good idea to get a second malware fighter--one that you don't run in real-time. It's like going to another doctor for a second opinion--except it doesn't cost anything.
Start with the Comodo firewall. It regular beats out the not-for-free firewalls in independent tests. It's not the easiest firewall in the world--it gets in your face an awful lot with questions that would confuse most novices--but PC World readers should be able to handle it.
Comodo recently added antivirus, making itself the first free suite. But I've yet to see any independent test results on Comodo's antivirus, and therefore don't trust it. So, when you install Comodo, uncheck the Antivirus option and just install the firewall.
That means you need separate antivirus software. Go with Avast. It's free, uninstrusive, and did very well on AV-Comparitive's last round of tests.
That means you need separate antivirus software. Go with Avast. It's free, uninstrusive, and did very well on AV-Comparitive's last round of tests.
I'll give you two choices for extra protection, and there's no real reason not use both of them. They are SuperAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes. Scan your hard drive with one or the other of them every week or so--and if you suspect something.
Add your comments to this article below. If you have other tech questions, email them to me at [email protected], or post them to a community of helpful folks on the PCW Answer Line forum.
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After years of leaving security software in the hands of third-party vendors, Microsoft finally introduced a free security suite for Windows in 2009. Nowadays, it's a fully integrated part of Windows 10.
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The basic idea behind Defender is simple: to offer real-time protection against a variety of threats, such as adware, spyware, and viruses. It operates quickly and uses few system resources, allowing you to continue with other tasks while a scan is running. The application can help protect your computer from many of the rogue programs online and those inadvertently downloaded via email.
Navigating Defender
The interface itself is very basic, with three or four tabs (depending on your version of Windows) at the very top. To check if Defender is active on your computer running Windows 10, check in the Settings app under Update & Security > Windows Defender. (If you're a Windows 8 or 8.1 user, look at the System and Security section of the Control Panel.) Most of the time, you won't need to go beyond the Home tab. This area contains the controls to run malware scans and at-a-glance status reports for your PC.
Updating Threat Definitions
The Updatetab is where you update the software's antivirus and malware definitions. Defender updates automatically, but updating the program yourself is always a good idea before running a manual scan.
Running Scans
Defender runs three basic types of scans:
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- A quick scan looks in the most likely places that malware hides.
- A full scan looks everywhere.
- A custom scan looks at a specific hard drive or folder that you're concerned about.
Bear in mind that the latter two scans take far longer to complete than the first. That said, running a full scan every month or so is a good idea.
This is a basic, no-nonsense security product, so added features such as scan scheduling are not available. The simplest option is to make a note in your calendar to run a full scan on, say, the second Saturday of the month (or whatever day makes the most sense for you).
Enhancements With Windows 10 Anniversary Edition
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Most of the time, you'll notice Defender only when it has acted against a potential threat. The Anniversary Update for Windows 10, however, added 'enhanced notifications,' which provide periodic status updates. These updates appear in the Action Center, don't require any further action, and can be disabled if you prefer. The update also allows you to run Defender at the same time as a third-party antivirus solution in Defender's 'limited periodic scanning' mode, which acts as a low-impact backstop for added security.
What Should I Download To Protect My Computer Windows 10
The Bottom Line
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Defender is a free, basic, real-time security solution that's capable enough for the average user who sticks to mainstream sites, but it's not considered the absolute best option for PC security. Compared to third-party security suites in independent tests, Defender typically performs toward the middle or bottom of the pack. On the other hand, Defender's simplistic approach makes it a nice alternative to these security suites, which come with an increasing number of confusing features and tend to bug you regularly to run a scan, read a weekly security report, consider an upgrade, or go through a security check. Windows Defender, by comparison, needs only to be activated to provide adequate protection for your PC.