Antivirus software
What is anti-virus software?
Anti-virus software is designed to prevent your computer from becoming infected with malicious software (malware) such as viruses and Trojans. Anti-virus software will scan your computer and alert you if it finds any malware. If your computer does become infected, the software will attempt to remove the infection.
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What anti-virus software should I use?
There are lots of different anti-virus products to choose from. None can guarantee 100% protection but they do increase your security considerably and reduce the chances of your computer becoming infected. Some banks offer their customers free security tools such as anti-virus and browser security software. It is highly recommend that you download and use these tools. Popular anti-virus software providers include:
- Microsoft Security Essentials, McAfee, Symantec, Trend Micro, Kaspersky, Norton, AVG, Sophos, ESET etc..
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Why do I need to keep my anti-virus up-to-date?
Just like in the real world, criminals are always looking to use new techniques to help them steal something and the internet is no different. Keeping your anti-virus software up-to-date will help detect and prevent new strains of malware from infecting your computer.
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Watch out for Rogue Anti-Virus Software
Beware of fake ‘rogue’ anti-virus/scare ware. This scam involves fake security pop-ups warning you of an infection on your computer. This is done to trickyou into downloading malicious software which prevents your computer from running properly; you are then asked to make a card payment to have it fixed. The fake pop-ups sometimes look very genuine and may contain familiar wording to real antivirus software. If you come across this but are unsure whether it is genuine or not, don’t click on the pop-up, run a full a scan on your computer using the anti-virus software you purchased.