With all the hype about H1N1, many people took measures to prevent catching the virus. They too shots, avoided people who were sick, washed their hands etc. They didn’t want to catch the virus. Your computer has the same issues. The difference is there are millions of viruses out there actively wanting to infect your computer. A good anti-virus program is a must.

So what should you do? If you make the decision to not run anti-virus software it doesn’t automatically mean you are going to get a virus. It does increase the chance. You can be as careful as possible, but if you receive email from other, there is a risk. Many times it is not the sites you visit it is the sites others visit.
The adage “you get what you pay for” is true. There are some good free programs out there don’t misunderstand me. They are good for experienced users who aren’t in need of help or customer service. They are also stripped down versions of programs. In order for these companies to stay in business they have to make money. The programs that they give away are going to be very basic. They can usually only be used on a single machine and for shorter periods of time. They will also require navigating pages of sales copy. Still, free programs are still a very good way to test a product.

So why pay and what should I look for? Most of the leaders in the industry, like Norton AntiVirus 2010and McAfee VirusScan Enterprise 8.5i , offer advanced forms of threat protection. They are designed to stop viruses that have not yet been discovered. They are also very good at stopping newer versions of existing viruses. This can come in handy when you are surfing in the deepest darkest corners of the Internet.
Pay for versions offer features like the ability to visit questionable sites in a protected mode. They are also able to protect you against thing like keyloggers. This is something that is not available in the free versions.
Most pay versions also are bundled with other features in a suite type package. This will provide spam filtering, parental controls and customer support via e-mail, chat and / or phone. These suites will offer features or other packages at a discount.

It is always to keep you computer updated with the most current version available. Viruses change and evolve on a almost daily basis. It is vital to keep things updated. Failing to do so will increase the risk of your computer becoming infected.

In summary, always run anti-virus software, don’t be afraid to try a free version and shop. The question is not whether or not you need a anti-virus software package ,it is just which one to buy.