Spyware and Malware and Bloatware, Oh My!

So you've purchased a new computer, connected to the internet, and you're off to see the wizard. You've tried to follow the yellow brick road like the vertically challenged glee club advised, and you avoid the perils of the nastier side of the internet. You've even employed the help of some traveling companions like Norton, Spybot, Adaware, Avast, and others. All is well, right? Then why are you getting monkey-stomped by minions of the wicked witch of the web?

All imagery aside, this is a common and costly issue. Spyware and malware infections make up the majority of my computer repair house calls, and the shocker is that most of these computers already have anti-virus and anti-spyware programs installed. Adding insult to injury is the fact that more often than not, these security software have annual subscription fees. So, as I've been asked countless times before, why do computers still get infected? Is there a difference between anti-virus and anti-spyware programs? What is the best anti-virus software?

I'm going to disclaim my answer a bit. I can only speak from my 10 years of experience as a computer enthusiast and repair technician. Anti-virus and anti-spyware programs are only as effective as the user operating the computer. Often times the software will need updating, upgrading, or maintenance, and if you aren't comfortable tweaking settings and staying current on definition updates, the chance that malicious software will find a hole in your defense is dramatically increased. The catch-22 is that if you are comfortable with the upkeep of your software, there's a good chance you're tech-savvy enough to deal with a badly infected machine after the fact.

So what can you do to stay protected. First and foremost, back-up (make copies) of important files and information. If your computer becomes inoperable, you'll end up paying a dear price to try and rescue some of those old files, and there is no guarantee a technician will be able to salvage that data. Secondly, as you go about your daily computing, be mindful of and pop-ups or prompts your computer is giving you. If you don't understand something, a quick Google search can point you in the right direction. Another option is our Definitech hands-free computer maintenance service. Check out our Computer Maintenance program on our Services page for more information.

Assuming you've decided to install some type of security software on your computer, another blog post will be forth-coming about what to look for in an effective defense. As always, stay tuned!