Computers sure are vulnerable to just about any digital threat; perhaps this is the main reason why my computer network yesterday was in a very bad condition. Because of that, I had to resort to the Geek Squad. The geek who tinkered with my computer arrived at about two in the afternoon, and left at around eight in the evening.
Every time you log into the World Wide Web from your PC, you expose it to unseen malice. Chances are you are all too familiar with the ads that warn you about the horrible malware that can burrow its way into your hard drive. Malicious programs from hackers in lands far and near can hijack your email account. They can give identity thieves access to your bank account and your credit cards. They can steal your very name. So, it only makes good sense that the first thing you ever do with your new Internet-ready PC is to protect it from the unseen dangers of the net. But what kind of software do you need? Anti-spyware, anti-virus software, or both?
Nobody wants a computer clogged with adware and spyware. These malicious invaders of your computer’s cache can originate anywhere, in an email, from a malicious website, or in a file you should never have downloaded. But wherever they come from, adware and spyware will quickly start to slow down your computer. Even worse, they may email your personal financial information or open the door for even more malicious software to cause havoc. You have to have a good remedy on hand to remove both kinds of malicious software, and this remedy needs to be something you can use every moment you are connected to the net.
Most of us surf the Internet every day, never stopping to consider that our computers need protection. Then one day our computers slow down to a crawl, or crash, and we don’t know why. The reason often is that there is a virus, spyware, or both, plaguing our unprotected PCs.
Has there been some time recently you were enjoying the Internet only to be asked if you would like to place a bet on next year’s World Series? Or maybe to buy a timeshare condominium in south Florida, or even a $2000 chair massager? Have you ever had half a dozen popups block your use of a web page, and not be able to turn them off? If any situation like this has ever happened to you, then you know full well what it is like to have adware infect your computer. Adware blocks your enjoyment of the net and slows down PC performance to a crawl. Worse, it can even be an early warning of still worse things to come. Wherever there is adware, spyware and viruses are likely soon to follow. Some spyware might only report back to some software vendor how you are using their program. But other spyware might also email your credit card numbers to a criminal’s office half way around the world. Viruses and worms can destroy your computer altogether. Even if you avoid the very worst damage these most common types of malware can do to your home computer, the odds are high your hard drive will slow down to a crawl for even the simplest of applications.
Did you ever open a website only to have half a dozen small windows?or sometimes full pages?pop up in front of you, trying to sell you everything from online dating services to the most embarrassing porn?
There are many threats to your PC on the Internet. These include a range of malware, such as viruses, trojans and worms. Online criminals design threats for commercial gain, such as downloaders and spyware and sometimes for pure malice. To counter these threats you need software to defend your computer.