Computer Defenses

By now you should have recovered and archived your data and diagnosed and fixed the issues on your PC. The final step is to install the defensive measures so your data stays safe and spyware and virus infections stay out.

Backup

We all know we should back our files up, but 80% of us don't do it regularly. The problem is, it takes extra work on our part, whether to burn our files to a blank DVD or simply to copy them to another location. So here's the solution: automated backup. Install it once, and thereafter it automatically keeps your files backed up, with no further attention from you. So one day when you press the power switch on your PC and nothing happens but a puff of smoke, its no panic - restore your report to another PC and submit it by the deadline anyway.

Consider what features you might require in a backup tool:

Back up over Internet to a centrally accessible repository;
Automatic unattended backup;
Types of backup media supported;
Backup of email and address books;
Encryption;
Restore only selected files or all files to their original locations.

We recommend two great products below.

Shields Up! - Virus and Spyware Defense

Now that you've gotten your PC cleaned up, let's keep it that way. Face it, whatever resulted in your PC getting infected the first time is sooner or later going to strike again, unless you are going to unplug from the Internet permanently. Even that's no guarantee, as viruses have been around longer than Internet connectivity was commonplace.

The two products we recommend here do a superior job of protecting your PC from both spyware and viruses. Actually they will also scan your PC for viruses and remove them as part of the installation process. At Step 2 we removed viruses using a free on-line scanner. You could have directly installed one of these antivirus products at that stage, but generally the two-pass approach produces superior results and reduces problems with installation later.

Features you might require in an anti-virus and anti-spyware tool:

Frequent automatic updates of virus signature database;
Occupies a minimal amount of memory;
Doesn't noticeably slow down the PC when active;
Covers all entry points that viruses can get in, such as instant messaging, email, browsers, etc.;
Firewall that prevents unauthorized programs from accessing the Internet;
Ability to detect new virus variants not yet in the database.

Fortunately, antivirus, anti-spyware and full-featured backup are available in a single bundle, along with a number of additional extra goodies. This simplifies installation, usage, purchasing, renewals, support, upgrades, etc., since everything is integrated.

The two bundles we recommend are Norton 360 and BitDefender Total Security 2008. Both products are equally capable at virus and spyware defense. And both products are licensed for up to three PCs, making them very cost effective on a per-PC basis.

Norton 360 ver. 2.0

The first product we recommend is Symantec's Norton 360. Nearly everyone knows the Norton brand. A few years back Norton Antivirus earned a reputation for being a resource hog and slowing the computer down markedly. These problems are fully corrected, and Norton is now easy on memory requirements and CPU load.

Norton 360 includes a full-featured automatic backup and restore utility, with a very wide range of backup destinations and media. It comes with 2 GB of on-line storage as part of the bundle, with additional capacity available at slight additional cost.

Norton remains the industry leader in quality antivirus and anti-spyware. Norton 360 is designed to make intelligent choices when it detects a virus or suspicious Internet activity, without troubling the user. It would be a top choice for users who are not computer experts or simply want the security software to quietly provide security without pestering them.

Its spam filter and Parental Controls are not as capable as BitDefender, but if your needs in this area are light, it may serve.

Norton monitors your wireless network, and is capable of monitoring all Norton security products on the local network from a single computer. It includes a system tune-up utility to clean out temporary files and do other maintenance operations.

Unique to Norton is a utility that manages user names and passwords for you. Norton 360 is also very good at detecting fraudulent websites and will alert you if you should land on one by accident.

Norton 360 would be preferred over BitDefender for users that want a superior backup solution and a password manager, but have little need of a spam filter or Parental Controls.

BitDefender Total Security

BitDefender is a very complete product, very much the equal of Norton 360, though at a slightly better price because it doesn't have the name brand recognition that Norton has.

BitDefender includes an automated backup utility, but is limited to backing up to local drives or removable media, not Internet-based.

BitDefender is especially good at detecting new and emerging viruses that haven't been added to the database yet. This means your vulnerability to being infected in the first few critical hours when a new virus emerges is much reduced.

It includes Parental Controls, to limit access to certain sites and to certain times of the day, and screens email content too, for younger family members.

A good quality spam filter is also part of the bundle, which is capable of blocking virtually all spam.

Like Norton, it will monitor your wireless network for unauthorized attempts to connect to it, and it includes a system tune-up utility to clean out unused files and perform other maintenance functions.

Unique to BitDefender is a special Gamer's Mode. This mode detects when the PC is in full-screen mode such as when playing games or viewing a movie, and will not interrupt game play with messages or alerts.

BitDefender Total Security would be preferred over Norton 360 for users that want quality spam filtering and Parental Controls, or that want to save a few dollars.

We have arranged a $15 discount coupon code for BitDefender Total Security 2008. Use code "BDTS15OFF" when checking out. You must purchase through this button to use this code.