Files can be toxic indeed. Computer viruses, spyware, and other types of malware sneak onto computers and poison them with destructive intentions. Viruses aim to harm your system while spyware sets out to steal your personal information. Other malicious programs take over your computer for stealthily carrying out spam campaigns or flooding Web sites with traffic - end result, your computer (or its data) is being used without your knowledge or permission. Plus, performance suffers dramatically. Ridding the computer of toxic files is essential.
Sometimes, you realize right away that a file likely contains malicious code; other times, you simply don’t know. For example, if you recently downloaded a freebie (such as a screensaver from a random Web site) and then begin noticing numerous computer errors soon after, you may suspect a computer virus or spyware infection. Other times, malicious programs sneak on when you simply visit a Web site - no download required.
So, what’s a computer user to do? If you suspect a recently downloaded file or application is the culprit, uninstalling it seems to be the natural choice. However, if a virus or spyware program hitched a ride, uninstalling won’t solve the problem. It may uninstall the original screensaver or application but not the malware.
In addition, if you are unaware of an infection, it will fester - and perform its mission.
This is why it is absolutely critical to protect your computer with both an anti-virus solution as well as an anti-spyware program. Since it sounds as though you already have an infection, this is even more critical because some types of malware create holes in your computer’s defenses and invite other malware to join the fun. It’s not uncommon for hundreds of malicious programs to be found on an unprotected computer.
ParetoLogic’s products are among the best of the best, especially at catching spyware. They have one of the largest databases of malware definitions. The new Anti-Virus Plus product detects viruses and spyware and provides “active protection” so that malware doesn’t have a chance to invade in the first place. Naturally, it will also scan your system and remove any current infections.
A number of free anti-virus and anti-spyware products are available as well though they do not provide complete protection. The adage, “you get what you pay for” is true. With the huge numbers of viruses, spyware, and malware out there, it pays to protect your PC.
Look for a reputable software developer, real time protection, and automatic updates. Once you find the right security solution for your needs, run a complete system scan and allow the software to remove your toxic files.
Celeste Stewart | August 7th, 2008
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