Antivirus applications and security software require some routine maintenance to
ensure that you will be completely protected. For example, viruses and spyware
are constantly evolving, and new types of malware are created every day. Thus,
it is important that your security software has been updated with the most
current patches and data, so it can detect the newest threats. I will explain what
you should do to optimize your security software.
1. Automatic
Updates
Even the
most dedicated PC owners will forget to manually patch their security software
each and every time they boot up the computer. Fortunately, most security
applications offer an option to automatically check for and install updates. For
example, the Karpersky’s PC Virus Protection plan lets you set up both
automatic and manual updates. Generally, you can set up a time and day for the
PC to check for new malware definitions. You should also set up Windows itself
to automatically install its own system updates and patches, because operating system
vulnerabilities could create holes that your security software won’t be able to
block.
2. Regular
Scans
Most
security programs also let you schedule scans for specific times and days. Of course,
you will
want to
select a period when the PC will typically be on, because the scan won’t run if
the computer is not running. If you’re the type of person who works better by
checking off to-do lists, you may wish to create a weekly computer maintenance checklist
that includes a security scan, among other PC-related tasks. Other popular
weekly tasks might include emptying the Windows Recycle Bin, deleting temporary
Internet files, and cleaning up the icons on your Desktop.
3. Security
Suite Features
Modern cyber threats
require more than just an antivirus application, which is a good reason to
invest
in a
security suite that includes antivirus, antispyware, a firewall, and
anti-phishing tools. Protecting
against
spyware is especially important, as things such as adware and rootkits can
infiltrate your PC
through
your Web browser—and an individual standalone antivirus utility may not catch
those sorts of attacks. (Rather than trying to harm your PC, spyware threats
attempt to secretly monitor your computer to gather and steal personal
information, such as usernames, passwords, or credit card numbers.
Even if
you have invested in a security suite, it’s possible that not all of the tools
may be running by default. You can visit the Action Center in Windows 7 and
Windows 8 to see which utilities are
running; this will help you monitor key areas of concern. To access the Action
Center in Windows 7, click the Start button, select Control Panel, choose System
And Security, and click Review Your
Computer’s Status. Click the Security section to expand the Action Center’s
breakdown of your
operational
security.
In Windows 8, access the Start screen and type action . Then, click
(or tap) Settings and select Action Center. Click the Security section to view
the list of actionable security items. Just a few of the most important include
Virus Protection, Network Firewall, Spyware And Unwanted Software Protection,
and Internet Security Settings. Recognize & Mitigate Security Risks If
you’re running a small business, you may end up with security software that’s
designed for much larger enterprises, which can lead to struggles when it comes
to installation and management.
If you are spending too much time dealing with
administrative issues, or if your security software is
bogging employees down, the total cost of securing the business may be more
than you bargained for. In that case, look for security software that makes it
easy to automatically apply the same security settings to multiple machines.
This way, it’s less likely that someone will want to turn off the protection
and end up becoming the weak link in the
chain.
Another
way to mitigate risk is to invest in a security tool that uses heuristics to
monitor the Web traffic coming and going through your PCs to prevent even the
types of attacks that are not covered by the virus definitions on your PCs. Some security
applications can also limit employee access to certain Websites, applications,
games, and social networking sites.
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