Antivirus Antispyware

Keep your computer security software active and current: at a minimum, your computer should have anti virus and antispyware software, and a firewall. You can buy stand-alone programs for each element or a computer security suite that includes these programs from a variety of sources, including commercial vendors or from your Internet Service Provider.

Computer security software that comes pre-installed on a computer generally works for a short time unless you pay a subscription fee to keep it in effect. In any case, computer security software protects against the newest threats only if it is up-to-date. That's why it is critical to set your computer security software to update automatically.
Some scam artists distribute malware disguised as anti spyware software. Resist buying software in response to unexpected pop-up messages or emails, especially ads that claim to have scanned your computer and detected malware. That's a tactic scammers have used to spread malware.

Once you confirm that your computer security software is up-to-date, run it to scan your computer for viruses and spyware. If the program identifies a file as a problem, delete it.

antivirus Software
anti-virus software protects your computer from viruses that can destroy your data, slow your computer's performance, cause a crash, or even allow spammers to send email through your account. It works by scanning your computer and your incoming email for viruses, and then deleting them.

anti-spyware Software
Installed on your computer without your consent, spyware software monitors or controls your computer use. It may be used to send you pop-up ads, redirect your computer to websites, monitor your Internet surfing, or record your keystrokes, which, in turn, could lead to the theft of your personal information.

A computer may be infected with spyware if it:
Slows down, malfunctions, or displays repeated error messages
Won't shut down or restart
Serves up a lot of pop-up ads, or displays them when you're not surfing the web
Displays web pages or programs you didn't intend to use, or sends emails you didn't write.
Firewalls
A firewall helps keep hackers from using your computer to send out your personal information without your permission. While antivirus software scans incoming email and files, a firewall is like a guard, watching for outside attempts to access your system and blocking communications to and from sources you don't permit.