Introduction

As most people know by now, the internet is not a secure place, as viruses, spyware and other types of malware lurk at every corner and try to find loopholes and vulnerabilities that can easily be exploited to a wide range of malicious activities.
Desktop computers, laptops, tablets, mobile phones and other common gadgets which are connected to net are all potential targets for these types of cyber-attacks.

There are many different ways a computer can fall victim and get infected with a virus.
Some of the common methods include opening email attachments that contain malicious code, downloading software or files from dubious sources, downloading pirated video and music files, visiting unknown or bad links on social media sites, using shady smartphone apps, clicking online ads and pop-up windows as well as others.

There are many types of virus creators that range from bored teenagers who are in search of a quick thrill to highly-skilled black-hat hackers and unscrupulous cyber-criminals.
Malware coders have different reasons and motivations for developing and spreading malicious computer programs, such as:

• Profit making
• Steeling valuable personal, financial or business information
• Excitement and trill
• Personal amusement and ‘fun’
• Revenge
• Extortion
• Ego boost
• Exposure of system vulnerabilities
• Sabotaging a business competitor
• Education and learning
• Sending a political or social message
• Terrorism and cyber warfare

The Importance of purchasing and installing a decent anti-virus software cannot be underestimated, since failing to do so may result in dire consequences for the unfortunate personal or business computer owner.

Professional antivirus software and other system security products are essential to comprehensive computer safety, data protection and uninterrupted internet usage.
These tools are responsible for scanning, cleaning, quarantining and deleting suspicious objects and identified viruses in the user’s computer.
In normal circumstances, such programs have good detection rates and can help establish a good defense, prevent intrusions and thwart the vast majority of incoming threats.

As new viruses, which are constantly getting trickier and more sophisticated, are being developed and introduced to the technological landscape on a daily basis, it’s vital to keep the antivirus software fully updated so it can combat them effectively.
Commercial virus protection applications offer their paying subscribers real-time updates of the antivirus database definitions, which helps countering the latest threats.

Infection Consequences

Once a virus has infected a computer (or other digital device), it can cause serious damage in a variety of ways, such as:

• Steal CPU resources and slow down the computer’s processing speed.
• Slow down internet browsing speed.
• Delete vital personal data, documents and files.
• Corrupt images, videos and other multimedia files.
• Prevent the PC from booting up.
• Send out unauthorized email messages to the victim’s contacts.
• Access and steal passwords, sensitive financial data and private information.
• Install unwanted software on the system.
• Computer freeze or crash.
• Network connectivity problems.
• Logging keystrokes.
• Strange or unusual computer behavior.

Threat Types

Typical threats include a variety of attack methods and infection techniques, which usually come in form of different hostile or intrusive software, such as:

• Adware
• Backdoors
• Bots / Botnets (used for DDoS attacks, spam and phishing campaigns, etc.)
• Browser Hijacker
• Bug
• Keyloggers
• Crimeware & Ransomware
• Malicious Mobile App
• Phishing
• RAM Scraper
• Rootkit
• Spyware
• Trojan Horses
• Virus
• Worms

What Do Internet Security Websites Offer?

The leading computer and internet security companies offer modern antivirus utilities that are responsible for malware detection and removal as well as other types of common threats.
Most commercial products provide comprehensive solutions for a variety of platforms, such as Windows, Android, Mac OS and iOS powered devices.

Many providers offer multiplatform and multi-device bundle licenses, which can cover several pieces of hardware for a single price.

Almost all paid subscription AV suites are offered with a long free trial period, which enables users to try the software before they buy it and fully evaluate its performance, the impact on system speed, ease of use, advanced features, tech support and overall effectivity.

Paying for Antivirus with PayPal

Many popular virus protection companies in the market accept PayPal and take a variety of other payment methods such as credit cards, debit cards, wire transfers, gift cards and more.

Before Choosing: Features to Consider

In order to make sure that you receive optimal benefit from using this type of service, it is crucial to conduct proper research and verify that certain technical features that you need are actually being offered by the providers that you consider.
Doing so will help you decide which company is the best fit for your individual needs.

Such AV features may include:

• Payment via PayPal
• Free Trial
• Firewall
• Built-In VPN
• Parental Control / Child Protection
• Mobile Security
• Ad Blocking
• Disk Encryption
• Incoming and Outgoing Email Protection
• Spam Protection
• Password Manager
• PC Tune Up
• Remote Control
• Ransomware Protection
• USB Scanner
• Malware Removal
• Website Blocker
• Boot Time Scan
• Wi-Fi Protection
• Instant Messaging Protection