How To Be A Responsible Computer User, Part One
Use a virus scanner and make sure it is updated.
Just about every computer comes with a number of programs. Some of these programs are 'trials', meaning they are only good for a short period of time. Generally, the virus scanner that comes installed on your new computer is a trial version. In order to keep the virus scanner up to date and working to keep your computer free from new and nasty virus, you have to pay for the program. Most of the commercial virus scanners on the market also require you to pay an annual fee for what they call the subscription for the virus update or 'dat' files. When you pay for the program the first time, you get the first year's subscription. This is also true if you buy a boxed version of the program.
Did you pay for your virus scanner after the trial period? Maybe you intended to pay for it, but just got busy and forgot about it. No big deal, right? Wrong! If you are extremely lucky you don't have any viruses on your computer. Chances are, you have more than one! Maybe after buying your computer and paying for the other programs you really want to use, you are a little short of money, so the virus scanner program can wait a while longer. Wrong! The virus scanner should come first! If you get a virus that destroys all of your data, how are you going to justify no virus scanner?
You don't have to buy the program that came on your computer. There are several very good and free virus scanners you can download and use indefinitely! The companies that provide the free scanners hope you will upgrade to their paid versions, but you don't have to upgrade. For free virus scanners, look at this page.
Keep in mind, no virus scanner will 'catch' everything. Indeed, some of the most destructive malware today is known as 'spyware'. The free versions of virus scanners are not as effective at removing spyware, so you also need to keep spyware scanners as well. Most free spyware scanners will need to be updated and run manually.
Just an FYI, if you decide to use a program other than the one that came with your computer, don't forget to uninstall the original virus scanner. Even though the trial period may have expired, the scanner may still be running in the background. It won't be updated, but it will still run. Two antivirus programs running at the same time don't play well together.