Security
It is well known that if you own a Windows based computer, you need to have up to date security software on your computer. This is because unscrupulous people may be looking to steal your information, use your computer for their own purposes, or just want to maliciously cause havoc. There is always a reason, we don’t need to understand what it is or why, just that we need to protect ourselves.
My preference is for free antivirus solutions like Windows Security Essentials or Avira Antivirus free edition. Both are good products that don’t cost $30-$70 a year. You also don’t run the risk of forgetting to renew your subscription, which is one of the most common reason people receive infections.
I also prefer malwarebytes as a great antispyware solution, their free engine works extremely well at removing the nasty bugs that may have come in under your nose.
Make sure to update and run your antivirus and antispyware solution at least once a week. If you do this and stay away from pirating software, pirating music, pirating videos, and all those pop up adds trying to give you something for free you will be in much better shape. A simple rule to follow is, if the computer pops up a message you are not expecting, open up a web browser and do a search on Google for the message. If the search returns pages talking about a scam, stop what you are doing, save any work, run a spyware and antivirus scan, then reboot. This is an overcautious approach, but it will help protect you in those situations where you are not sure what to do. Paying someone to fix your computer can cost hundreds of dollars and take a week or more for some of the harder problems. This caution can save you a lot in the long run.
