Why do I need Anti Virus software
What does antivirus offer me?
Antivirus software protects you computer from infection and applies to people who use PCs for sending and receiving emails or surfing the web. However, as this applies to pretty much everybody then it stands that we all benefit from having good antivirus protection.
Viruses have been around almost as long as computers. They are basically small computer programmes that find a way onto your PC without your knowledge. They do this by entering your PC via an infected website, or email, and once installed can spread, just like a real virus, through your contacts and infect your friends and colleagues.
How you use the internet greatly affects your chances of becoming infected with a virus, also known as malware (literally malicious-software). The more time you spend visiting new sites and the more files you attempt to download, clicking on video players, the greater the risk that one of them carries hidden malware. Opening emails from unknown sources also carries a higher risk of infection.
Once you are infected the consequences depends on the particular malware. Some viruses will simply slow your computer down and interfere with your operating systems while they use your computer as a jumping off point for other purposes. Others are more dangerous for you personally as they are sent in to look for private information on your PC, such as passwords, names and addresses, bank details etc, which they then send on to another entity, usually criminal gangs, who then sell the information on to fraudsters.
Other viruses are designed to cause damage to your PC’s hard-drive. Why these exist and who on earth spends their time designing them is one of life’s great mysteries, but needless to say they are real and can cause a lot of damage to your nice new computer.
Installing a good anti-virus software on your PC remains the most effective way of safeguarding your PC whilst navigating your way around the Internet.