If you’re the type of person who values his computer and his data, you’re probably aware of the importance of having the right antivirus software installed. These days, virus creators are getting smarter and more persistent than ever before, and many will stop at nothing to reap the benefits involved in infiltrating your system, snatching your personal information, and wreaking havoc on your electronic existence.
As the owner and head technician at EZ Computer Repair, an Orange County, California computer repair company specializing in virus removal and data recovery, Todd Alcock is acutely aware of the fact that computer viruses are one of the greatest threats to information security on a whole. For this reason, he thinks that anyone who uses a computer and surfs the Internet on a regular basis should make sure that his system is equipped with the proper antivirus and anti-spyware software.
These days, customers in the market for antivirus software have more options to choose from than ever before. The question is: Which antivirus software does the best job at preventing attacks? Although Alcock agrees that there are plenty of good options available to consumers, he tends to recommend Trend Micro antivirus and anti-spyware software when it comes to at-home use.
What’s so special about Trend Micro? To an extent, Trend Micro antivirus software functions similarly to that of the competition. Trend Micro’s antivirus and anti-spyware combination does an excellent job of protecting computers from attacks. This software also offers intrusion blocking services and email and system safety scans to ensure that users’ computers are kept nice and secure. However, what sets Trend Micro’s software apart from some of the rest of the products on the market is that it also protects users against so-called “rootkits.”
Not familiar with the term? A rootkit is a malicious software program that runs as part of a computer’s operating system so that it can’t be detected by usual antivirus and anti-spyware software. Most rootkits are designed to steal personal data such as passwords, banking details, and credit card information. Since not every type of antivirus software is designed to detect rootkits, anyone looking to truly protect his data – and his identity – is best off choosing a program that is designed to combat this particular issue.
Of course, the ability to detect rootkits isn’t the only thing that makes Trend Micro’s antivirus and anti-spyware software stand out. According to Alcock, Trend Micro also does a great job at updating itself automatically – a key component of any successful software of this type. Trend Micro also doesn’t subject users to the annoying pop-ups inherent in similar types of software. Best of all, Trend Micro’s antivirus and anti-spyware software works in a manner that won’t slow computers down.
While Trend Micro does a great job at keeping computers free of viruses and spyware, like most types of protective software, it has its limitations. Trend Micro software doesn’t protect against same-day viruses (viruses that have never been detected before), and its email scanning features don’t work on every type of service. Still, those looking to protect themselves from computer viruses and spyware will be very well served by installing Trend Micro software.
If the idea of getting a computer virus is enough to throw you for a loop, then you should definitely put some type of software in place to protect yourself. However, installing the right antivirus software isn’t always enough. To truly keep your data secure, be smart when browsing through emails and surfing the web. Avoid illicit websites that tend to contain viruses, and make a habit of never opening an email attachment unless you’re confident that you can verify its source. Remember, virus creators today are getting better and better at what they do, and while the right antivirus software can certainly help, you should double its efforts by being vigilant and cautious too.
