AntiVirus Software
Many new pcs come with some sort of antivirus software installed, but most of these will stop working after a trial period. The first step is to check what software you have, if any, and how long it will work for. If there is none present, you should make it a priority to decide on what you wish to use.
Choosing the right piece of software is not always easy. There are free options, and paid for ones; there are stand-alone AV's, and those that come as part of 'security bundles'. You will find that all your friends will have their favourites, as do security experts. There is a good list here, but you will need to do some research before making your final decision. It's worth noting that most companies offer a trial version of their products, and so it may be worth trying a few, to find out which ones suit your purpose.
If you're very new to computers, you may find it easier to choose a security bundle. These can be expensive, but will provide you with a combination of products, inclusing antivirus and a firewall, all controllable from one place. Others prefer to choose each product seperately.
Once you have your chosen piece of software, it's important to make sure that it connects to the internet, and updates regularly. New viruses are being developed all the time, and it's important that your software is updated to be able to recognise and deal with them.
Your software will run in the background, offering general protection. It's then important to run a full scan of your computer, at least once a week, to check that there are no problems.
Choosing the right piece of software is not always easy. There are free options, and paid for ones; there are stand-alone AV's, and those that come as part of 'security bundles'. You will find that all your friends will have their favourites, as do security experts. There is a good list here, but you will need to do some research before making your final decision. It's worth noting that most companies offer a trial version of their products, and so it may be worth trying a few, to find out which ones suit your purpose.
If you're very new to computers, you may find it easier to choose a security bundle. These can be expensive, but will provide you with a combination of products, inclusing antivirus and a firewall, all controllable from one place. Others prefer to choose each product seperately.
Once you have your chosen piece of software, it's important to make sure that it connects to the internet, and updates regularly. New viruses are being developed all the time, and it's important that your software is updated to be able to recognise and deal with them.
Your software will run in the background, offering general protection. It's then important to run a full scan of your computer, at least once a week, to check that there are no problems.