Computer Protection

If you’re going to surf on the web, you should have protection.  Too often I spend time cleaning people’s computers after they obtain an infection—even when doing all the right things like not randomly clicking unknown links.  Today we are bombarded with the sharing of information, on personal email, work email, social media inboxes.   There are just too many ways in which our computers and devices can contract an STD, a surfing transmitted disease.

First Level Protection

If you are going to play in any way on the interwebs, you have to have the most basic thing before you go on there: an antivirus software.

There are all kinds of options for your personal devices and for your business.  Of course, for businesses the best kind is one that is managed by your server and a qualified IT person that maintains it.  But if you are a one user organization, or for your personal computer, or in an office without a server, you have options as well.

Option I: Buy a good AV software

Buy one at the computer store or online.  You can get Malware Bytes for as low as $24.95 a year, AVG for $39.99, or Total Defense for $59.99 that covers up to 5 devices.   They all have their pluses and minuses.  The usual thing to consider is how they affect your performance as some tend to use a lot of resources while they work impacting your speed and computer’s performance.  Much of that can be mitigated by adjusting the settings.

Option II: Free protection

We realize that some people are hesitant to pay for this and that’s okay.  You STILL have options to give yourself some peace of mind and basic protection.  There are a number of free options like, Malware Bytes, AVG, and Microsoft Security Essentials.  Any of these is better than nothing.  Also like the paid versions, it can impact performance but that can be addressed to some extent with adjusting of the settings.

Option III: Hire an expert

We don’t expect you to be an expert on this antivirus stuff.  If you were, you wouldn’t be reading this right now.  But that’s OK!  We do this all day long and can do this in our sleep.  Please make the time to call us before you get an infection.  It’s the wild, wild west on the internet and it’s only a matter of time before you click on a link for a kitten video that turns out to be a malware infection that steals your passwords.  It happens to the best of people and no device is immune—not even Apples and smartphones.

Phone a friend

As always, we are here to perform the installations, even if you choose to take a free software route.  It’s fine by us, many of these are great and will protect you just enough to keep your computer healthy.

We can install the antivirus remotely and take payment right over the phone.  Just call 773.756.1739.

 

***If you mention this blog, we will install one of the free versions for only $25—that’s it!  $25 to protect yourself from a day when everything hits the fan and the computer konks out on you.  Do it!  Call and schedule an appointment today or email us at [email protected] if you’re shy.