Recent virus threats and the dangers of free antivirus

There has been a lot of media coverage in recent weeks about viruses and security breaches in the IT world.  Unfortunately, these stories are becoming more and more common as we all continue to move to an “always-online” way of life.

The reality is that a lot of these viruses are not new.  Earlier this month, several high-profile news channels reported that we had a 2 week period to protect ourselves before a major virus attack hit and allowed hackers to access sensitive information on our computers.

Russian Ransom-ware?

In particular, the most recent viruses in the limelight are known as GOZeuS and CryptoLocker.  The former has been seen hiding inside email attachments and when opened, would allow a hacker to scan the infected computer for valuable information.  The latter, CryptoLocker, is known as ransom-ware; it too scans for valuable data, but if cannot locate any, the infected computer is automatically locked until a ransom is paid.  We have had reports that even once this ransom is paid, the system remains unusable.

Our Recommended Solution – ESET

Our recommended anti-virus vendor, ESET, has actually been protecting our clients against these viruses since October 2013.  We have a wide range of products available for PC, Mac, Server, Tablet and SmartPhone.  In addition, there are multi-user and multi-year discounts available for both home and business customers.

It is all too easy to ignore the importance of using a good quality anti-virus solution.  There are many free anti-virus products out there, but the old saying “you get what you pay for” is once again true if you have or are considering using one of these. Using multiple free anti-virus software is also a no-no. You risk rendering your computer unusable if you chose this path and with possibly less protection than if you just had one installed.

Business Owners: Take Note

If you run a business, you have a responsibility to ensure your systems are secure – a security breach has potentially disastrous implications where customer records and financial information could be easily compromised.

All ESET anti-virus solutions offer best-in-class protection against the latest threats, while the software itself is both lightweight and unobtrusive; unlike other mainstream anti-virus products, it will not slow down your system.

Contact us today to discuss your requirements and arrange a free trial.  Then you can rest easy that you will never have to worry about a virus infection again!  You can call us directly on 01403 290321 or email [email protected]

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