All you need to know about antivirus software

Learn how to protect you computer using free tools.
Describing the impact of computer viruses and their close relatives; worms, Trojan horses and spyware without clichés or sensationalizing the issue is difficult. However, after all the hype, the bottom line is that viruses are created by people driven by malice and they have devastating effects on computers. Over the past two and a half decades, computer viruses have caused untold financial damage and loss in productivity – yet this is just the impact on businesses the world over. Home computer users have been the most hit because the majority do not have the resources to invest in tech support to install and maintain Antivirus systems and firewalls as well as repair the damage caused.
Thankfully, viruses can be stopped before they wreak havoc on our computers. Antivirus software is the first line of defense against viruses. As a matter of fact, the Antivirus programs available today involve a few simple clicks and rarely demand any significant input from you.
Your computer is an expensive piece of equipment that you need to protect. The information stored on your computer may also be sensitive and to keep it away from prying eyes, you must secure it. There are several things that you can do to protect your computer and this ebook focuses on one of the most important of these, Antivirus software.
One thing that needs to be mentioned as you read this eBook is that the terms “virus” and “malware” are used as all-inclusive terms that refers to a wide range malicious code i.e. viruses, worms, Trojan horses and spyware.
This ebook is written for non-techies who would like quickly learn about how to deploy and use Antivirus software on their computers. We have tried as much as possible to avoid technical jargon.

Introduction
Assessing your Risk
Understanding Viruses and Other Malicious Software
Types of Malware and How They Work
Who Makes Viruses and What are the Motives behind Them?
Antivirus Defense
Importance of an Antivirus Software
Free VS Paid
Installing Antivirus Software
Configuring Antivirus Software
Scanning your computer and emails
Removing Viruses
Removing Persistent Malware
Repair Programs
Bootable Discs
Basics of Safe Computing Practice
Backups
Safe Web Browsing
Suspicious Computer Behavior
Updating Antivirus Software
When the Unthinkable Happens
File Recovery Techniques
Formatting your Computer
Antivirus Software – A Review of the Market leaders
Norton
Trend Micro
Kaspersky
McAfee
Avast
AVG
Bit Defender
F-Secure
NOD32
Panda
Final Word