Antivirus software: Frequently asked questions
| Q. | What is antivirus software? | ||||||
| A. | Antivirus software helps to protect your computer against most viruses, worms, Trojan horses, and other unwanted invaders that can perform malicious acts. They can delete files, access personal data, or use your computer to attack other computers. Antivirus software either comes installed on your computer or you can purchase and install it yourself. | ||||||
| Q. | Why should I use antivirus software? | ||||||
| A. | Antivirus software helps to keep your computer safe. Remember to update your antivirus software regularly. These updates are generally available through a subscription from your antivirus vendor. | ||||||
| Q. | How do I know whether I already have antivirus software on my computer? | ||||||
| A. | Check the Programs list on the Start menu and look for an antivirus program. Many major computer manufacturers include at least a trial version of a popular antivirus software package, such as McAfee or Symantec. But just because the software is already installed on your computer, doesn't mean that it's "turned on," gets regular updates. | ||||||
| Q. | Where can I get antivirus software if I don't have it installed? | ||||||
| A. | If you don't have antivirus software installed, you can get it from one of several companies. For special offers on antivirus and firewall packages, visit our Security software: Downloads and trials page. | ||||||
| Q. | I already have antivirus software installed, but I want to install an antivirus program from a different company. Can I do that? | ||||||
| A. | If you already have antivirus software installed, but you want to install a new product from a different company, you should remove your current antivirus software before you install the new one. If the previous version remains installed, it can cause conflicts on your computer. | ||||||
| Q. | How do I keep my antivirus software up to date? | ||||||
| A. | Out-of-date antivirus software means ineffective antivirus software. Antivirus software relies on regular updates to help protect against the latest threats. If you don't subscribe to get updates, your computer might be vulnerable to attacks by malicious software. Here are some tips for making sure your antivirus software stays current:
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| Q. | I want to install a new software program, but the installation process is telling me to turn off my antivirus software. Is that safe? | ||||||
| A. | Sometimes, when you install a new software program, you must turn off your antivirus software during installation. Remember to turn your antivirus software back on again when you are finished. | ||||||
| Q. | I disabled some settings on my antivirus software, and now I'm not sure I should have done that. What are the most important settings to enable? | ||||||
| A. | The following settings are probably enabled by default when you install the software and you shouldn't disable them for extended periods of time. If you do have to disable these settings to install a new software program or for any other reason, be sure to re-enable them as soon as possible.
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| Q. | Where can I get more information about antivirus software? | ||||||
| A. | Visit the Viruses & Worms section of this site for more details about fighting viruses. | ||||||
