Cyber-security has become an increasing concern in recent years. Between hacks that bring down big networks such as Xbox Live and the Playstation Network, to terrorism like security threats such as those that Sony faced late last year; one thing is certain — we have a big need for cybersecurity. While we often associate that word with large corporations, cyber-security is just as important on an individual level. Your PC is a vault of secrets that can enable someone access to your bank account and even worse, your identity.
To protect against the myriad of threats out there, you need to ensure you install an effective anti-virus and anti-malware software on your computer. If you’re wanting to pay a premium, Norton’s, Avast, and MCafee Antivirus have strong reputations for providing some of the best virus and malware PC protection. However, you don’t need to pay these premiums to effectively protect your computer. AVG is an effective and free alternative to some of the big name competitors out there. According to TopTenReviews:
AVG received the highest possible score from AV-Test for protection against new malware attacks. It also received near-perfect scores in usability, which determines the intuitiveness of the system.
Bottom line, AVG is an excellent alternative. To install AVG on your system, follow the steps below:
- Ensure that you don’t have another anti-virus already installed
- Having multiple anti-virus programs installed can cause issues with performance and even leave your computer VULNERABLE!
- Download AVG from Downloads.com by clicking here
- Note: We recommend visiting the link above. There are iterations of AVG on the net that ARE viruses. Be careful!
- Once downloaded, open the file.
- Note: It may take a few minutes to initialize the installation.
- Once initialized, select your language from the drop-down and click Next
- Click Accept to the End User Software License Agreement
- Select Basic Protection and click Next
- Select Standard Install and click Next
- Allow the installation to finish
- Once completed, restart your computer
You’re now officially protected! AVG should automatically update and give you notifications when threats are found, but it’s a good practice to routinely check the dashboard for alerts and ensure that the system’s virus definitions are fully up-to-date.
Running into any issues with installing or using the software? Collaborate in the comments below!