Protecting your computer without breaking the bank

Computer viruses have been around for years. Every day there are hundreds of new viruses and variants released which will all cause some kind of issue or problem with your computer or network. Protecting yourself against these threats has been difficult and costly in the past but with the advancement of software, there are now several reliable free options. I have mentioned just a handful below but in my opinion, these are the most effective.

AVG Free edition

AVG (or Anti Virus Grisoft) is a well renowned anti virus program that offers full internet protection completely free of charge for home users. The business license will cost you a small amount of cash, but its money well spent in my eyes. This will protect you from Viruses, Trojans, Spyware and most other common versions of malware. It also offers protection against visiting rogue websites using its unique link scanner software. Download the free home edition from here: http://bit.ly/gCecWE

Microsoft Security Essentials

MSE is Microsoft’s attempt at anti-virus software and is actually really good. It’s tiny file size and efficient scanning process makes it a great choice for lower spec and older computers. All you will need is an up to date genuine operating system (XP, Vista or Windows 7) and the software is free to download. It even allows you to install it on up to 10 computers within a small business without extra cost. It doesn’t have all the extra features like AVG but it does the job it needs too. It only protects against viruses though so you will require other software for removing Spyware and other malware infections. The Microsoft website does not allow external links, but you can find MSE by searching on Google.

Malware Bytes Anti Malware

If you choose the MSE option, you will need additional software to protect against other infections such as spyware, Trojans and Rootkits. Malware Bytes Anti Malware or MBAM for short is a program that will do just that. It has even been known to detect infections that AVG has missed so feel free to install it alongside AVG for even better protection. It has a simple interface and easy to follow setup instructions however it does require you to run the scan manually every time, completely free and well worth the download. Get it here: http://bit.ly/hkPc1x

Super Anti Spyware

This software does an equally good job as MBAM at keeping Spyware and other malware at arm’s length. The only difference is that Super Anti Spyware (or SAS) will keep updated and automatically check for new versions of the software. There’s nothing to say that you have to choose one or the other, when it comes to Malware scanners, you can have as many as you like. On the other hand, it is important to have only one Virus scanner as they can cause problems if there are more than one installed.

By choosing the combination that suits you, you can rest assured that your computer is protected against online threats. An important thing to remember is to only have one anti-virus software installed at a time. For instance, installing AVG and MSE could cause some issues however, AV software and Malware scanners can work together happily. AVG and MBAM is a perfectly suitable combination.