Posts Tagged ‘avast’

A Shiny New avast! to Brighten Up Your PC – FREE Antivirus

Wednesday, January 20th, 2010

logoJumpstartMyPC.com was created to help PC users get the most out of their computer and there are few products that have demonstrated this concept as much as avast! Free Antivirus.  Since the first day the company was drawn out on a bar napkin (isn’t that how they all start) we envisioned a Tools page with avast! positioned firmly at the top.  Today, that top spot just got a little brighter, as avast! has served up a shiny, fresh-off-the-production-line model, with version 5.0 of their amazing, FREE software.

Normally, I would prepare an article like this and hold on to it for a few days before posting it to our blog, but my faith in the makers of the avast! product (which they have earned without compensating me in any way) tells me that I can safely cover and promote this update.  Why, because I have used the avast! product on countless computers, for myself and others, and have never had a complaint.  The software has always been easy to install, easy to use and VERY effective.  Of course, all of this could be said about other antivirus softwares, but those other applications are not FREE!  How can you beat FREE and functional?

(more…)

The Necessary Evil of PC Security

Friday, December 18th, 2009

PcSecurity_1Protecting your computer from security threats, like viruses and malware, has long been a necessary evil for PC users.  Threats are plentiful, and so are the costs associated with anti-virus programs and updates.  Unfortunately, both seem to also be on the rise.

Most new computers come with a trial version of Norton or McAfee (anti-virus programs), which expires within the first year of use.  For most users, the notification that the trial period is about to expire surfaces far too quickly and forces them into some quick decision making.   Uneducated and uninformed, the average user feels they should continue to use these programs after the trial ends.   There are two major problems with this mode of thinking:

(more…)

Warning Lights on Your PC Shouldn’t be Ignored

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

You’ve done it or you know someone who has.  That pesky oil light came on in the car and you ignored it.  You kept telling yourself that getting an oil change was high on your list of things to do, but distraction after distraction kept you from making it to the garage to get it done.  There is a lot more to this story, but I think we all know where it is going and the ending is not a happy one.  You now know there are consequences for putting off routine maintenance on your car.  The same can be said for your computer and, just like in your car, there are warning “lights” to keep you in check.

The system tray (lower right hand corner of Windows, where the clock is) serves as a holding area for system functions such as anti-virus settings, printer, modem, sound volume, battery status, and more.  For the most part, we all ignore this area, unless we are checking the time or we see some sort of pop-up or cloud with text in it.  Even then, there are many people who ignore the warnings that come from this area.  It’s just like that oil light.  “I’ll get to it” or “I know I need to take care of that, but….”  Ignoring these warnings can be dangerous to your PC and the security of your files and personal information.

(more…)

30% of Your PCs are Infected (This is not a Halloween Joke)

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009
Image taken from aipanic.com

Image taken from aipanic.com

A shocking title for the article, but I really wanted to get your attention.  It’s for your own good.

Microsoft recently launched the free Security Essentials package for Windows.  Much like avast! Home Edition (our favorite) or AVG Free, the software package aims at providing anti-virus and anti-spyware protection for the home PC user for FREE!  Apparently, they were also doing a little research about the users that installed the software and what was found on the PCs it was installed on.

According to an interview with Amy Barzdukas (general manager, Internet Explorer and consumer security at Microsoft) “well over 30% of people who are downloading it are requiring a fair amount of cleaning.”  In the full article One-Third of Security Essentials users infected : Microsoft (found on itwire.com), Amy notes the details of their findings, but that 30% quote was enough to grab my attention and I hope it will do the same for you.

(more…)