Tips for keeping your computer virus free.

The first line of defense in keeping your computer running fast and healthy is a good anti-virus program. While having an anti-virus program installed will be a much greater help than having nothing at all, there really is no completely fail safe method for keeping viruses out.

There are many anti-virus programs to choose from. Some are paid programs and others are free. Many of the free programs do just as fine of a job as the paid programs do. Keep in mind however that some of the free programs do not scan for things such as root kits.

Here is a list of some anti-virus programs to consider. All of these can be researched on Google.

Avast! (my personal favorite)
AVG
Avira
BitDefender
Computer Associates
ESET NOD32
F-Secure
Kaspersky
McAfee
Norton Anti-Virus
Panda
Trend Micro
Windows Live Onecare

If you intend on purchasing an anti-virus program, it is best to research them a bit before committing to the purchase. By doing this you can better decide what is best for you and your computer. Free programs can be tested hands on since you don't have to worry about no being able to return the software if you don't like it.

There are many "rogue" programs that disguise themselves as anti-virus programs when they actually a virus themselves. Some to definitely keep away from are AntiVirus2008, Antivirus2009, AntiVirusPro and a new one making the rounds, AntiVirus2010. If you happen to find a program not on this list that you want to try, make sure to research it first to make sure it is a legitimate program.

It is important to completely remove anti-virus software before installing a new one. Having to anti-virus programs installed and running at once will only succeed in slowing your computer to a crawl while to two programs fight for supremacy.

Once you have chosen your anti-virus program, it is imperative that you keep it up to date. Many programs release updates weekly and in some cases, daily. Generally programs are set to automatically receive updates on their own. You should leave this option in place to prevent forgetting to manually update on your own. In addition, most programs are set by default to do a daily scan at a set time. It is ok to change this setting so that your computer will be scanned during a time that your computer is normally on.

Remember, even the best programs will not always keep you safe. If you already have a virus you can't get rid of, it may be time to call a professional before it gets worse.