We all know how bad a computer virus can be for a user but most of us don’t realize how easy it is to receive one and the overall damage it can cause a business. Every time you browse the web or receive an email your computer is at risk, without you actually knowing it.

Having a reliable anti-virus program installed is one step further to better laptop security . The following post is some information on why we should use anti-virus programs and where we can find the most reliable software available.

What anti-virus software?

In simple terms Anti-virus software can help protect a computer from installing and spreading a malicious virus.

Actions of anti-virus software

There are a wide variety of anti-virus programs available on the market with each one having different features but it’s a must that anti-virus software should at least have the following features:

• Real time scanning of data files & emails
• Automatic updates on a regular basis
• Options to perform manual scans of files, directories and the hard drive

Most anti-virus programs will have the above features but its always advisable to double check before purchasing the application.

Why have anti-virus software installed?

Computer viruses are on the increase and the method of how they become installed onto a computer is becoming more intelligent. Websites are notorious for spreading Trojans or virus worms without the knowledge of the computer users or the website owner for that matter and before anyone knows it the system maybe riddled with the virus or spyware.

If a laptop that contains a virus connects to a business network that virus can easily spread across the network and onto other computers causing maximum damage that could cost a company thousands of dollars in lost revenue and thousands to seek & destroy the virus.

Virus programs will have different goals; some set out to destroy data when others sit in the background sniffing data to pass onto its creator. It’s essential that a laptop or computer has anti-virus software installed and configured before being allowed to access the internet, without this basic protection it’s only a matter of time until a virus strikes.