Keeping Your Computer Free of Viruses and Spyware

Unsecured computers have a high chance of being infiltrated with viruses and spyware. The result of an unsecured computer can face: stolen financial information, erased files, and a significant drop in speed.

Keeping your computer safe is a way to ensure your information is secure. A safe computer will also ensure your time on the computer is free from lags and crashes. Downloading the programs below and following the necessary steps will keep your computer safe from spyware and viruses.

Windows Update

There are times when Microsoft finds security issues with their software. Checking for updates is simple. In Microsoft Windows Vista, take the mouse and click on the Start menu and select Control Panel. In Classic view, scroll down and click on the Windows update icon. Next, click View updates to see the list of possible updates for your computer. Check the updates you would like for your computer, and click install. Read through the license terms and click I accept the license terms. After you do that, click finish and the updates will begin downloading. Once the updates are finished, click the Restart now icon and you are done. Updating Windows will patch security issues found on Vista.

Spybot - Search & Destroy

Spybot - Search & Destroy removes web tracking software, adaware files, and modules. Once you have the program installed and running, you will want to run an update search. Click the Search for updates icon to run a search for new updates. Once the updates have been found, click the Download button to collect all of the updates. After you are finished downloading the updates, go back to the main menu and click the Check for problems icon. Run the scan until it is finished. At the end, hit the Fix selected problems button. Upon fixing the problems, you can now exit the program.

AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition

AVG is a software program used to remove viruses from your computer. The program offers a deep scan and provides continuous updates free of charge. Once AVG is installed, you should run an update for the latest updates. This can be done by clicking the Update now section on the main menu. After the updates are finished, click Close in the bottom right. Next, go to Tools at the top and follow the menu down to Scan computer. At the end, the program will alert you of any viruses and how to remove them.

Protecting your computer from the start is the way to prevent headaches of the future. You will find it much easier to update and run security software, than trying to get rid of a pesky virus. All of the programs mentioned above can be downloaded for free from download.com. Remember to update the software at least once a week to ensure maximum security. By using security software, you will live a life with less stress on the computer.