Malware, at the very least, can be annoying. At the worst, it can be very damaging to not only your computer, but your identity – especially if it leads to vulnerabilities that hackers can take advantage of. The rise of such threats in recent years has led to the need for PC malware protection. There are different types of malware, including spyware, viruses, adware, worms, ransomware, and any other malicious code that can infiltrate a PC.
Malware and its many varieties has evolved over the years. Originally, it was meant for experimentation and pranks. Now, it is used as a way to infiltrate other computers for financial purposes. There is money to be made through organized cyber-crime. It can be as simple as forcing ads on people (adware) to something very extreme such as holding important files “ransom” or even identity theft.
Unfortunately, new kinds of malware is popping up every day. In order to constantly keep your computer protected from all of the emerging threats, it is essential that you use the best antivirus / internet security software. While there are some free anti-malware tools, not all of them are designed to keep a computer safe from every type of threat possible. The best PC malware protection usually comes as part of a Pro Antivirus or Internet Security program that automatically updates itself every day with new definitions of suspicious files, websites, emails, and apps that are being created all the time.
A Full-Scale Suite for PC Malware Protection
You might not need a full-scale security suite unless you want to expand the protection to include things such as parental controls, file shredder, spam filtering, VPN, password manager, etc. Consider which additional features you need – if any – and those you can do without.
Another important factor when choosing PC malware protection is the system requirements. Some programs take up too many system resources and cause computers to run slow. Read over the system requirements when comparing programs and check out reviews to find out if there are any complaints about any of them not running smoothly in the background.
There are always preventive measures you can take yourself in order to keep your computer free from malware. Be careful with any email you receive asking you to click a link to login to verify an account. Always visit official sites manually yourself through the browser. Don’t download any apps or programs you’re unfamiliar with until you’ve read up on them to find out if there are malware claims.
Ultimately, PC malware protection is an added line of defense from all sorts of threats computer users face these days. Norton Antivirus Plus and Norton 360 Standard are often recommended for home computers. Take the time to look over each product to determine if they will be right for your needs.