Anti-Virus Software and the REAL threat

Windows OS users of the internet, this is for you:

When people say to me me, “Macs don’t get viruses, so that’s why I bought one.” I just have to shrug and wonder if anyone ever told them where viruses REALLY come from. NOTE: Mac OS users can benefit from reading this too.

When someone gets a virus on their computer it isn’t because some mean hacker decided to pick on them out of the billions of internet users all over the globe, it’s because the user isn’t being careful. Another part of the problem is that most people don’t know what a virus may be described as.

Earlier this year there was a virus that plagued the Windows user population, it was called a PAV virus. People get this type of virus by clicking a link online that looks like it is his/her own anti-virus software. It just doesn’t seem fair, does it?

PAV means, basically, fake anti-virus. It plays off the idea that most people who use the internet don’t know what is legitimate and what is adware (or worse, a virus). The best way to keep away from this type of virus is to use an ad blocker on your web browser(s).

On my personal computer I’ve installed Google Chrome as the browser and added “Ad Block” as my first line of defense. Firefox also has an ad block add on, but I have no experience with it. [Mac users can benefit from doing this too!]

Now, back to the windows OS scene…

Windows users, Mac computers are fantastic but not every one can afford them and there is still a possibility of getting a virus. So if you don’t have the money or all you’re doing online is checking email and Facebook, then the purchase is unnecessary. Any good paid anti-virus will do the trick, but free versions of anti-virus like AVG, Avast, etc. Really aren’t worth the risk. Instead download Microsoft Security Essentials, because it is actually very good.

Now that everyone has (hopefully) downloaded either an ad block software or an antivirus software (or both!) you can breathe a bit easier while surfing the web. But still be careful. Just remember, if you got a virus…it’s because of something YOU did. So it pays to be a bit paranoid (literally).

Happy surfing!