Computer Help Blog

So you want to protect your computer from viruses, spyware and other malware? Are you spending countless hours on Internet searching for the best computer security software? If yes, here are some tips to find the best computer security software to keep your computer safe and secure and protect your online privacy…

You cannot obtain complete security by using a single software application. That is you will need three kinds of software — antivirus scanner, spyware removal tool and firewall software. Many antivirus scanners do not detect Trojan horses. For this reason, you can also install a Trojan removal software on your computer. Firewall software will protect your computer from hacking attempts from the Internet. If you install all of these four applications computer, your computer will be very secure. However, installing the software can also make your computer very slow. For this reason, it is essential that you strike a balance between security and speed.

Always stick to well-known antivirus software. The same goes for spyware removal tools as well. There are many fake antivirus and spyware removal tools on the Internet. In fact, many of these contain viruses themselves and the design only to force you to purchase the so-called "full versions". Some of the leading antivirus software in the market include Norton, Kaspersky, Avira and others. Before installing any software from the Internet, always ensure that you are installing the real software and not some fake one. Also read software reviews and user feedback before installing new antivirus software on your computer.

If you think that investing in security software is not a good idea, there are other alternatives. You can use the antivirus software on their computer. There are several free antivirus software on the Internet and these are equally effective in providing security to the computer. When compared to paid versions, these may lag behind in some aspects. However, they are better option than leaving your computer without an antivirus software installed. There are also several open source antivirus projects. ClamWin is one such project.

Several free spyware removal tools are also available on Internet. These include Spyware Terminator, Spy bot — search and destroy and Ad Aware SE. You can download these tools by searching in Google for the names. Alternatively, you can also download these from download.com.

Paid Anti-Spyware

To keep your computer free from spyware, you have to install anti-spyware software. This has to be installed in addition to an anti-virus and a firewall for maximum protection. There are both free and paid versions of anti-spyware software. If security is the main consideration, it is always better to opt for a paid solution. However, there are some free versions that are equally good.

The main difference between paid and free anti-spyware solutions is that paid solutions identify newer spyware faster and release updates more often. Many update spyware definitions almost on a daily basis to ensure that their software is always up to date and effective against all the newly discovered threats. Paid solutions may also offer better customer support services.

Here are some examples of paid spyware removal software:

Spyware Doctor: Spyware Doctor is a top-rated malware & spyware remover that detects, removes and protects your PC from thousands of potential spyware, adware, trojans, keyloggers, spybots and tracking threats. Spyware Doctor costs $29.95 and comes with a 12 month subscription.

Sunbelt Counter Spy: Counter Spy is another highly recommended anti-spyware solution. It was ranked as the best spyware removal software by CNET in 2008. Subscription costs $19.95 (for 1 year) per computer. They also offer unlimited home site license for $39.95 (for 1 year). Counter Spy has very high detection rate, but at the same time, it is very light on system resources. They also offer a 14 day free trial.

Webroot Spy Sweeper: Spy Sweeper is one of most effective anti-spyware. It costs $29.95 (1 year), $39.95 (2 years) and $49.95 (3 years). It has many features like advanced spyware detection, real time protection, and enhanced rootkit detection. The subscription also includes free customer support. They also offer a free trial.

There are many other spyware protection solutions that are almost as good as the ones mentioned here. However, before buying them read user reviews and check if they are really worth the money. There are many rouge spyware removal software, which are themselves spyware. There software can be easily avoided by doing a little background check.

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