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Free Computer Security Software - A Leaking Seal!
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By Msingathi Mnyengeza
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There is nothing wrong with taking less than adequate measuresto prevent a bigger damage to anything you treasure if you havefinancial or other constraints, as long as this is donetemporarily over a short time. Similar reasoning applieswhen it comes to computer security threats.
Unfortunately some (if not most) computer users tend to forgetthis. They search on the internet for free computer securitysoftware which they dump into their computers and hope forthe best. Most of the free software developers consistentlyforget to inform the downloaders of the inadequaciesof their software - and they are many and significant!
A simple search for free anti-spyware programs on any searchengine yields significant results. If we exclude genuinebeta-software from these results, almost all of theseanti-spyware programs operate on the principle - "Getinfected first, then call us". In other words theseprograms are reactive. They scan and destroy spyware as it'sfound in the user's computer. The real downside of theseprograms is that they offer no real-time protection. Areyou surprised? Maybe you've forgotten that "there's no suchthing a free lunch"!
The big computer security software developers spend millionsof dollars every year developing products that can quicklydetect and destroy new computer security threats like spyware,adware, viruses, hacking techniques, Trojans, worms keyloggersetc
Do you think the developers of free computer security softwareinject millions of dollars in order to bring users of theirsoftware regular software updates? I think not!
Computer security software is such a critical purchasethat I think one should actually buy the software beforebringing home a new PC!
The most critical software that you should have in you PCis:
1. Firewall - To protect your PC from hackers andinternal malware that maybe trying to "phone home".
2. Spyware/Adware - To detect the "ETs" that are "phoninghome" from your PC, endangering your sensitive information suchas passwords, credit card numbers and other sensitiveinformation. These programs also use lots of your criticalcomputer resources. That's why your computer is slow andcrashing lately!
3. Anti-virus Software - These can either completely wipeout your critical data or render it or your computer useless.The most dangerous thing is that you may end up (unaware!) beinga source of the virus (e.g. through email or infected websitepages).
Here are common-sense measures you can take to protectyour PC:
1. E-mail - Avoid replying to chain letters. Also be verycareful of image attachment. Hackers attach malicious JavaScriptprogram on these.
2. Regularly update your anti-virus definitions byrunning the update function of your security software.
3. Before buying a computer security software or packagemake sure that it offers regular updates to keep up withnew viruses, adware, spyware and other computer security threats.
I want to repeat what I said at the beginning of thisarticle: There is nothing wrong in taking temporary securitymeasures as far as your computer security is concerned (i.e.using free software/downloads). What is wrong is forgetting thatthe measure was supposed to be over a temporary period in thefirst place.
Copyright: 1st Analyst Information Services 2006, All rightsreserved.
Website owners can use this article on their websites andezines, as long as no part of this article is changed/amended.
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