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How To Use An Antivirus on Your Home Computer

Published at 03/23/2012 02:58:30

Introduction

Households have enough germs, bacteria, and viruses around the home. However, people who own a PC or share a computer with other users have major concerns about viruses as well. Furthermore, many computer users have easy access to an Internet connection, which exposes the system to threats around the world, in cyberspace. If you dont take proper precautions when using an antivirus on a home computer, then your system can malfunction or become impaired.

Step 1

Be sure to install the antivirus program on all computers in the home. Not only do antivirus programs clean infections from a computer, but they also mount a defense, blocking new programs from becoming installed on the system. Many households have at least two computers. If one computer is unprotected, it can silently harbor a virus. When the other computer connects and shares the network, such as through the use of a wireless router, it can infect the protected computer, even if it has protection. By having antivirus installed on all computers in the home, you basically vaccinate everyone from getting infected by malware.

Step 2

Use the real-time protection on your PC. This means that the antivirus program runs from the moment you start up your computer at home until the time you turn it off. However, if you own a laptop that is used for school or professional work, you also have to consider keeping up your virus defense when connecting to wireless networks outside the home.

Step 3

Schedule a weekly antivirus scan for all your home PCs. If a virus does slip by your installed protections, a subsequent scan can still catch it and remove it from your system.

Step 4

Use the "Advanced" or "Professional" features in an antivirus program for your computers at home. Keep in mind the businesses and companies may use the exact or similarly functioning antivirus utilities that the average household consumer uses, because computer viruses circulate on networks around the world, not necessarily discriminating who or what will be infected. By using the Advanced features you can mount a stronger defense, but there may be a slight learning curve to understand how to use the software.

Step 5

Update the antivirus definitions for each computer in the home.

Tips

The Microsoft Security Essentials program is free antivirus for home users.

Sources and Citations

  1. "Disable antivirus software." Microsoft Windows. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2012. <http://Windows.microsoft.com/en-us/Windows7/Disable-antivirus-software>.
  2. " How can I help protect my computer from viruses?." Microsoft Windows. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2012. <http://Windows.microsoft.com/en-U.S./Windows7/How-can-I-help-protect-my-computer-from-viruses>.
  3. " How can I tell if my computer has a virus?." Microsoft Windows. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2012. <http://Windows.microsoft.com/en-U.S./Windows7/how-can-i-tell-if-my-computer-has-a-virus>.
  4. " How do I remove a computer virus?." Microsoft Windows. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2012. <http://Windows.microsoft.com/en-U.S./Windows7/how-do-I-remove-a-computer-virus>.
  5. " Tips for protecting your computer from viruses." Microsoft Windows. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2012. <http://Windows.microsoft.com/en-U.S./Windows7/Tips-for-protecting-your-computer-from-viruses>.
  6. " Understanding security and safer computing." Microsoft Windows. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2012. <http://Windows.microsoft.com/en-U.S./Windows7/Understanding-security-and-safer-computing>.
  7. " Update your antivirus software." Microsoft Windows. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2012. <http://Windows.microsoft.com/en-U.S./Windows7/Update-your-antivirus-software>.
  8. " Use antivirus software that Windows doesn't find." Microsoft Windows. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2012. <http://Windows.microsoft.com/en-U.S./Windows7/Use-antivirus-software-that-Windows-doesnt-find>.
  9. " Using anti-malware software to help protect your computer." Microsoft Windows. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2012. <http://Windows.microsoft.com/en-U.S./Windows7/Using-anti-malware-software-to-help-protect-your-computer>.
  10. " Viruses: frequently asked questions." Microsoft Windows. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2012. <http://Windows.microsoft.com/en-U.S./Windows7/Viruses-frequently-asked-questions>.
  11. " What is Microsoft Security Essentials?." Microsoft Windows. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2012. <http://Windows.microsoft.com/en-U.S./Windows7/what-is-microsoft-security-essentials>.

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