Internet Safety

How to choose an antivirus software

Now that you have assessed your needs and determined whether you want a stand-alone product or a security suite, you can begin the process of choosing an antivirus software. Follow these steps before buying your software:

• Research Reviews: Research independent reviews of antivirus software from the current year. Go to reputable sites like CNET and TopTenReviews for expert opinions. Compare several reviews to get a good idea of which products are repeatedly recommended.
• Check features: A good antivirus software should offer real-time protection (meaning that it's always on) and auto-update regularly to guard against new viruses. It should have a heuristics analysis component, which detects and neutralizes previously unknown viruses, and an on-demand scanner which can be initiated by the user to find malicious programs.
• Determine ease of use: Investigate how easy a product is to set up and use. Go to the product website and look for screenshots, videos, and installation guides; these will give you a good idea of how user-friendly the software is.
• Review technical support: Make sure the product you are considering has multiple options for support, including email and a toll-free help line.
• Try a free evaluation: Download a free trial version of the software you are interested in, and try it out. The best demos should provide a full version of the software. Do not download more than one trial version at a time, as they may interfere with each other.

Strategies for using antivirus software

The most important thing to remember is that new viruses are being introduced on a constant basis; therefore, your antivirus software is only as good as the latest update. Follow these strategies to make sure you are using your antivirus software effectively:

• Make sure the automatic update function is turned on.
• Don't ignore your renewal notices. Once your subscription expires, you will stop receiving updates.
• There may be times when you need to disable your antivirus to allow certain programs, upgrades, or downloads. Just make sure you don't forget to re-enable your program when finished.
• Your antivirus should give you specific instructions for dealing with difficult problems, but if you are having trouble with an issue contact technical support.
• If you are unhappy with an antivirus program, make sure you uninstall it before installing a new product.