According to a recent study, about 50% of people do not have antivirus software installed on their computers. This is a problem because, without antivirus protection, your computer is susceptible to all sorts of malware, viruses, and other online threats.
To not have an antivirus installed on your computer is essentially browsing the internet naked. It’s the equivalent of walking on broken glass without shoes.
You are guaranteed to get injured.
I know what was a little excessive of an analogy, but I wanted to drive home the point of how important it is to have antivirus software installed on your computer.
In this article, I’ll give you 3 reasons why it’s a bad idea to not have an antivirus installed, and delve in a little more as to why that is the case.
Let’s dive in.
Antivirus Protects You from Malware
Malware is a type of software that can harm your computer or steal your personal information. Your antivirus software can help to protect you from the likes of malware.
Without antivirus protection, you’re vulnerable to all sorts of malware, including viruses, spyware, and ransomware.
Viruses can delete your files or damage your hard drive. Spyware can track your online activity and steal your personal information. Ransomware can encrypt your files and demand a ransom to decrypt them.
Antivirus software provides an important layer of protection against malware. It can keep your computer protected in real time to prevent a malware attack from happening. Although Windows Security can do a pretty decent job for PC-based computers, to keep your system protected, I’d recommend that you invest in third-party software.
One such anti-virus application is Norton antivirus. I’ll talk more about why I recommend them later in the article.
For now, just be sure to install a third-party antivirus application as soon as possible.
You’re only putting yourself at risk for a malware attack, by not having antivirus software installed. Even if you’re careful about what you download and only visit trustworthy websites, it only takes one infected email or malicious ad to infect your computer. And you don’t know when you might click on the “wrong link”.
Once your computer is infected…it’s a wrap.
The malware can spread to other computers on your network, as well as any devices you connect to your computer (like external hard drives or USB flash drives). And the recovery process is very expensive. Prevention is better than cure is what I always say.
And the best way to “prevent” malware attacks is to install antivirus software.
Helps to Avoid Phishing Scams
Phishing scams are one of the most common ways that people have their personal information stolen. This is when someone tries to trick you into giving them your personal information, like your credit card number or password.
They might do this by sending you an email that looks like it’s from a company you trust, or by creating a fake website that looks like a real one.
There are a few simple things you can do to prevent a phishing attack from happening.
Obviously, the first thing that you want to do is install an antivirus program on your computer.
Having antivirus software installed on your computer will alert you when there’s probable cause for a phishing attempt. If you don’t have an antivirus installed, there’s no way to know if the email or website is real or not. That’s why it’s important to have one installed, so you can stay safe online.
The next best thing that you can do to prevent becoming a victim of phishing is to be very careful with your emails. If you receive an email from someone that you do not know, or which looks suspicious, delete it immediately.
Many people believe that as long as they don’t download anything, they can’t get a virus. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. Hackers/Scammers can also create fake websites as I mentioned before, that look like legitimate sites but actually collect your personal information.
So, my third and final tip here is to be careful with the websites you’re visiting, and what information you exchange with those websites.
But by having a solid antivirus program installed on your computer, your risk of a phishing attack reduces significantly.
More Susceptible to Attacks
This one is a no-brainer. But let’s get into the psychology behind how this can affect you.
You may think that since you only visit safe websites and don’t click on any suspicious links, you’re in the clear. But no, this is not the case.
Even the safest internet users can be susceptible to attacks.
If you don’t have an antivirus installed, your computer is more vulnerable to malware and other security threats. And depending on how bad the attack is, you could end up paying thousands of dollars in recovery, either to recovery experts, to the hackers themselves, or both.
Ransomware anyone?
Even if you are careful about the websites you visit and the links you click on, malicious software can still find its way onto your computer. Once it’s there, it can wreak havoc on your system, steal your personal information, and even hold your files for ransom.
Don’t take chances with your computer’s security. Make sure you have an antivirus program installed and running at all times.
As I’ve mentioned before, prevention is better than cure. Having an antivirus will keep you ahead of the game, in real-time.
I Recommend Norton Antivirus
Norton Antivirus is a great choice because it offers comprehensive protection against all types of malware, including viruses, spyware, and adware. It also has a variety of features that make it easy to use, such as a simple interface and automatic updates.
I also like Norton because it’s light in terms of how much of your system resources it uses on your computer, while it’s running. There are many other antivirus programs that are heavy, and slow your computer down.
Plus Norton’s reputation alone precedes it.
Norton has been around since the 90’s when it was acquired by Symantec to develop antivirus for DOS(Disk Operating System) programs.
And it’s been kicking butt against viruses and malware ever since then.
Norton also has a variety of features that make it easy to use, such as a user-friendly interface. So novice of computer users can download and install Norton in a matter of minutes, and up and running, with full protection.
I recommend Norton Antivirus because it’s reliable and effective in protecting your computer from threats. So download Norton today, and you’ll be one step closer to preventing your computer from getting attacked by malware.
