We see it all the time – computers infected with viruses and spyware. Half of these computers are unprotected without antivirus software, but the others had perfectly good anti-virus software installed on them. This begs the question, “Are all antivirus software created equal?”
Let’s first get past the first question, “Can a virus infect a computer that has antivirus software installed on it?” A definite yes to that one. Viruses work fast and quick. Some viruses infect a system instantaneously. So, you’ll need to make sure that your antivirus protection has active monitoring. Most free antivirus software does not actively protect your system. This means that if a virus attacks your computer, it won’t be able to block it right away. It will only be able to remove it upon the next system scan. Paid antivirus software, on the other hand, are able to automatically protect and remove viruses on the fly. So, yes, that extra $40-50 per year does come in handy. Otherwise, you’ll need to pay a computer virus removal professional more to get rid of your virus.
So, the take-home message here is to make sure you are protected with a paid version of antivirus software. Norton Internet Security, Kapersky, McAfee, and Trend Micro are some good options.
