Computers

When the first PCs started turning up in the late seventies and early eighties they where designed to help businesses manage spreadsheets and if you were lucky help you write a letter to the bank manager asking, no doubt for more money, because you needed to re-mortgage the house for the latest breakthrough in cutting edge computing.

Nowadays computers come in all shapes and sizes and are capable of far more than just adding up a couple of sums. You can surf the web, play games, edit photos, listen to your music, make music even, oh and still of course get them to help you with your spread sheets and perhaps rather than a letter to your bank manager, simply manage your bank account online yourself.

But hardware doesn’t just cover computers and laptops but the multitude of accessories to go with it. The latest monitors that let you enjoy your desktop more, the 1TB hard drives that let you store all the data. Then there are the keyboards and mice that let you control it and that’s before you’ve got to the speakers to let you listen to it, the network modems that let you connect to the internet or the other massive plethora of USB devices that will do everything from letting you read a memory card to warming up a pair of slippers so you don’t get cold feet when doing your work.

The ultimate computer set up at home in my mind would consist of the following:

Apple MacBook Pro laptop.

Apple’s MacBook Pro laptop is one of the best laptops around allowing you to manage your work and play on the go with ease. Using the Apple Leopard OS you don’t have to worry about viruses as the system is so far know to be immune to them. Additionally the software just works letting you get on with your work and play. Used by creative types around the world the laptop is great for managing music and images. Time Machine, its backup software solution is by far the best offering out there meaning your data will be safe always.

Seagate hard drive.

If you’ve got lots of data and you backup regularly (which of course you should, it goes without saying) then you’ll need a decent hard drive to back up to. Seagate’s range of FreeAgent drives come in sizes of up to 750GB, more than ample enough, and offer fast performance for both Mac and PC users via USB 2.0 or Firewire.

Samsung 22-inch monitor.

Your laptop might come with its own screen, but you’ll want to maximise your working capabilities in the office with a massive monitor. Get yourself a widescreen monitor with a good resolution. You can then use your laptop monitor as a second screen for chat or email windows leaving the main large screen solely for working on documents or whatever your main focus should be. And before you eek with “isn’t it going to be expensive?” the answer is no - you can get a 24-inch for under 250 pounds.

Logitech Keyboard and Mouse.

Logitech have long been making decent keyboards and mice so it’s good to invest in something from the company. Mac owners might do better to opt for a Mac keyboard and a Logitech mouse however to get the best of both worlds. Something like the MX revolution or the MX Air.

Computers form a vital component in our lives today and with the wide selection of hardware out there this trend is only set to continue.

Technology expert Thomas Pretty looks into the importance of hardware reviews when looking at buying additional components for your computer.

Are you considering a digital camera purchase, but can’t live without professional prints? Or have you already made the switch to digital, but are unhappy with the way your digital photos turn out on your home printer? With today’s online digital photo printing services you can convert photos to quality, professional-grade prints conveniently and inexpensively.

Digital photo printing services allow you to upload directly to the service website, choose from several print sizes and select a print finish (glossy or matte). You can even specify whether you want prints with a border or borderless.

The best online digital photo developing services offer a free trial, so you can check out the service before spending a cent. Quality online printing services also provide a money-back guarantee so you’re sure to get your money’s worth.

Although printing services provide professional-grade results, most services offer low per-print charges, and some offer discounts for high-volume, digital-photo print or 35 mm print orders.

Album sharing is another unique service offered by online digital photo developers. Album sharing allows you to post your digital photos online, “share” them with family and friends (you allow access) so they can order copies of your digital photo prints.

You can also find some creative, photo-based gift ideas through digital photo printing services. Whether you’re looking for a gift that’s fun, classic or unique, digital photo services have just what you need.

In this site, you’ll find articles on digital photo subjects, recent news stories and comprehensive reviews on digital photo printing services to help you make an informed decision on which is right for you.

What to Look for in a Digital Photo Printing Service
You need a digital photo printing service that lets you upload digital photos conveniently and place print orders easily. Digital photo services should produce high-quality prints, offer low per-print prices, charge reasonable shipping costs, deliver prints quickly and provide additional services, such as creative gift choices.

Digital Photo Service Ease of Use/Ordering Process Typically, placing orders with digital photo printing services takes several steps. The best online digital photo developers make ordering easy for their customers by breaking the ordering process down into easy-to-follow steps.

Digital Photo Service Quality of Prints Digital photo printing services should duplicate the original digital photo as closely as possible.

Digital Photo Service Pricing Online digital photo printing services should offer price reductions for large-volume orders and prepaid orders.

Digital Photo Service Shipping Costs The best digital photo services offer low per-print prices yet keep shipping charges to a minimum. The digital photo service should use strong, rigid packaging to protect your prints against shipping damage.

Digital Photo Service Turnaround Time We looked for digital photo services that offer fast turnaround times without charging additional shipping fees, processing orders quickly and efficiently.

Other Digital Photo Services We look for online digital photo developing services that provide options beyond basic digital photo developing, such as canvas prints, poster prints and custom calendars. The service should offer a large selection of creative, photo-based gifts to suit a wide array of ages, occasions and tastes.

So whether you’ve just purchased a digital camera or have been taking digital photos for years, digital photo printing services are your ticket to fast, inexpensive digital photo prints with that professional look.

This article is distributed by MDofPC LLC MDofPC Custom Computers and Download Software

Having a computer at home and being connected to the World Wide Web may be convenient, but it also posesses a threat to your computer security. Computer security can be annoying and devastating in the worst of cases. So it is important for every computer user to know the real score about computer security and the risks involved.

There are many destructive elements lurking on the net and many have been victimized by these vicious attacks. The most common attacks are from viruses, spyware and adware. These elements can penetrate your computer without you knowing it. The can be passed from users as email attachments, bogus links and websites.

In order for your computer to be protected, you need to take counter measures as early as possible. By having your computer protected before you get connected to the net, you can minimize and zero out infiltration from these harmful elements.

Basic To-Do Tips to Enforce Computer Security

Here are just a few basic tips to ensure computer security.

1. Turn on your firewall immediately after purchasing your computer and before connecting to the internet. This is a crucial step that you have to take in order to initiate computer security. Your computer’s operating system comes with a firewall; turn that on before anything else. Although a firewall may sound secure enough, you also need backup to strengthen your computer’s security.

2. Install an anti virus program. You can avail a free anti virus program from the computer retailer and then later replace it with a more updated and potent version from the net. Make sure that your anti virus program runs live every time you are connected on the net to allow regular updates. And download anti virus program/s from popular reputable sites.

3. Install an anti spyware/malware/adware program. You can also ask your computer retailer for a free copy and you may download from a legitimate site afterwards. Make sure the anti spyware runs live and updates regularly.

4. Avoid opening emails and attachments from suspicious senders. Usually spam emails send links, photos and other sorts of attachments that may carry viruses. Whatever you do, avoid these emails and delete them immediately.

5. Avoid surfing suspicious websites. Porn sites are usually one of the hideous carriers of viruses and adware. Avoid surfing from these sites to prevent virus or adware infestation.

6. Always scan diskettes, CDs and devices you insert to your CPU before accessing them. Devices that have been used from other computers could contract viruses and can pass them to your computer when you use them without prior scanning. Always remember to scan them first to be sure.

Computer security can be achieved and enforced but it should start from you, the user. It is imperative that you do check your computer from time to time and do regular maintenance management to ensure that your computer is free from these harmful elements.

For the latest tips to
Optimize PC performance visit our site. We provide independent software reviews, daily PC news and various PC tips and tweaks to help you get the most out of your computer.

Despite increasingly heightened security by merchants and service providers, credit and debit card fraud is still on the rise. Perpetrators are using even more sophisticated methods of infiltration to access sensitive payment card information. The financial cost of fraud to any sized corporation can be huge and the price of preventing it is vast.

Any company which stores, processes or transmits payment card data bearing the logo of the five major payment companies has to comply with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS). These five companies include American Express, Discover, JCB, MasterCard and Visa. These standards were devised in 2004 to provide a common set of industry tools for the storage of payment card data in order to prevent, detect, and react to security incidents.

As well as merchants or banking institutions, compliance is required by any third party who accepts or processes payment cards. This includes call centres who receive cardholder data which they are unable to delete. If merchants use payment gateways to process transactions on their behalf, compliance is not required but they must ensure contractual obligation from the third party that they comply with PCI DSS and are responsible for the security of cardholder data.

Fines for non-compliance or security breaches can be huge, reaching $500,000. High profile cases involving huge corporations have hit the headlines. Some card brands have threatened huge fines against larger merchants of up to $25,000 per month until compliance is obtained. In severe cases, they have even threatened to remove the ability to process credit card payments, which could be economically fatal for any merchant.

While Visa reports that the majority of security breaches occur in small enterprises, any company that stores, processes, or transmits card information has to comply with a strict set of guidelines. Although intended to create a global standard which protects both consumers and corporations alike, these guidelines can be time consuming, costly, and complex to implement. Corporations that require PCI DSS compliance are prevented from storing sensitive credit card information, including security codes, track data from the magnetic strip, and PIN numbers. Information which can be stored includes credit card numbers, expiration dates and customer details, but the method of storage needs to meet certain requirements.

How to obtain PCI DSS compliance

The recommended first step to obtaining compliance is to hire the services of a Quality Security Assessor, who can advise on steps needed to reach compliance as well as completing the official assessments required. Smaller companies that process less than 80,000 transactions per year are permitted to complete a self-assessment questionnaire.

Compliance covers 6 areas of security:

1. Construction and maintenance of a secure network - including installation of a firewall to protect cardholder data
2. Protection of cardholder data - including encryption during data transmission
3. Vulnerability management - with regular updates of anti-virus software
4. Access control - to prevent and restrict access to sensitive data
5. Regular monitoring and testing of networks
6. Maintenance of an information security policy

The latest updated guidelines for PCI DSS are due for release in October 2008.

The benefits of PCI DSS compliance

- Protection from PCI related fines if compliant at the time of breach
- Increased customer confidence in data protection
- Advice on how to remediate any data security risks
- Advice on how to prevent service providers from putting your business at risk from data security
- Increased protection from fraudsters
- Protection from unwanted negative media attention

With this said, there is no question as to why PCI compliant is as important as it is. It both protects the consumer and the merchant, making transactions considerably safer than they would be otherwise.

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There are many reasons why a computer slows down after years of usage, but the most common reason is the lack of computer maintenance from the user. Owning and using a computer requires basic knowledge on the hardware and software, and computer troubleshooting. The bit of know-how is important to sustain the life of your computer and its performance.

If you have a computer that has the best hardware and software features, you still need to check the integrity and the performance of your machine. It is not enough to leave your computer on its own especially if you are connected to the internet and using it extensively.

A weekly or monthly computer maintenance check will make a difference in the performance of your computer. You need to know the basic tools that can help maintain your computer’s good-as-new performance. If you are awkward and daunted by this task, you can pay a computer technician to do the job for you.

Do-It-Yourself Weekly Computer Maintenance

There are some basic tasks that you can do to maintain your computer. But always remember that your need to do these tasks on a weekly or monthly basis to help protect your computer from deadly elements that can penetrate it through a number of ways.

* Defrag your computer at least once a week. If you do so, your computer can write and rewrite data files in order, improve your computer’s speed, organize scattered data files and utilize blank spaces in the hard disk accordingly. Defragging your computer allows it to work at a minimal a mount time, speeds up processes efficiently
* Computer scanning is a must everyday, so make sure your anti virus software is turned on and running real time. Updates are quite crucial for anti virus software as viruses are being developed each day.
* Spyware scanning. Use you anti spyware software everyday and make sure it is updating every time. You want to make sure that this is happening everyday to prevent spyware from penetrating your machine.
* Extensive virus and spyware scanning. You can do this weekly apart from the daily live scans. Extensive scanning can detect and destroy remnants from viruses and spyware that have been deleted. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Compute maintenance is a small responsibility that makes a huge difference. Being careful and conscientious about your computer usage will extend the life of your machine.

For the latest tips to
Optimize PC performance visit our site. We provide independent software reviews, daily PC news and various PC tips and tweaks to help you get the most out of your computer.

Windows Movie Maker is one of the latest applications for the Windows operating system from Microsoft. Windows Movie Maker allows users to store, create, edit, and manage their home movies using their PC and other assorted home movie equipment. This application allows you to add special effects, alter the format, and much more. Windows Movie Maker has become very popular with users, because of the flexibility and functions of this application. This program can cause Windows Movie Maker error messages though.

Some of the errors that occur with this application are associated errors. These errors are not caused by Movie Maker, and they will occur no matter what software program you are using. This can include missing files, corrupted files, registry entries which are not correct, viruses or other electronic infections, and spyware programs. The steps used to correct these errors will work to repair and eliminate any errors on your system. It is also a good idea to only keep one application or window open at a time, and this can eliminate some error messages.

Windows Movie Maker Errors, And Other Software Programs Which Can Cause Them

Viruses, worms, and trojans are electronic infections that are a major cause of error messages on any system, and these are easy to repair and get rid of. A good anti virus program will prevent these infections from happening, because they are caught and removed before any damage can be done to your system or hardware. Keep the definitions updated in the software, so that any new threats are recognized and removed. It is important to scan your system frequently, so these infections are detected as soon as possible. This will stop some of the Windows Movie Maker errors.

Spyware is a big cause of Windows Movie Maker error messages, both those concerning Windows Movie Maker and those related to other programs. In addition, spyware causes major speed and performance loss on your PC. These programs can also hijack your computer, as well as capture secure and private information, such as passwords and account numbers. Preventing these programs from taking control of your system is important. Spyware generally does not get your authorization before downloading and installing these programs, and they can run invisibly in the background. An anti spyware program will stop this, and prevent error messages.

Using a registry cleaner can stop almost all Windows Movie Maker errors. The registry of your system contains all the entries and keys needed by your operating system and any applications and programs installed on your computer. This registry also may contain software fragments for programs which have been removed, and these can clutter up the registry and cause error messages to appear. With registry cleaner software, cleaning the registry is simple and quick, with no risks or extended time needed.

Registry cleaner software makes cleaning the registry much faster and safer than manual editing. It would take days or weeks to go through the registry and edit each individual entry, and the risks are high that the wrong entry is edited, leading to system instability or even system failure. With registry cleaner software, there is no risk of system failure or instability. The Windows Movie Maker errors will be a thing of the past.

Brian Williams is a self-confessed PC fiddler dedicated to ’spreading the word’ when it comes to fixing PC errors and helping people make the most use of their PCs. For FREE ACCESS to more PC tips n’ tricks, just visit Optimize-Your-PC.com.

Anti-Virus software is a program to run on your computer, often in the background and keeps malicious spyware and background viruses from attacking your hard drive.there are different techniques that the software will use to keep viruses off of your computer. The software will start to scan all your files you have saved so that it can search for known viruses that will match definitions in a dictionary made only to detect a virus. Having antivirus software protects your computer from getting infected from different kinds of Mal ware that can be embedded in e-mails, downloads, and even programs that you install your computer.

The software will identify suspicious behavior from any computer program that might show signs of infection. The analysis may also include data captures,port monitoring and other methods. Most commercial antivirus software starts off with the approach called the virus dictionary approach.

Basically what happens is your antivirus software is constantly updated with a latest in the dictionary that it carries of viruses. The software scans your computer looking for anything that matches the different files that it has in its list of different viruses. Once the computer software comes up against any of these files that match in its list or dictionary of viruses, the first thing it does is try to remove it from the file. If you cannot remove it from the file, it will quarantine it. By putting the virus in quarantine, it prevents it from spreading further onto your computer.

Because the virus dictionary approach relies on a file of viruses, you need to make sure that when you buy antivirus software it comes with unlimited virus updates. The world of spyware, viruses, and Mal ware is ever changing and evolving and it is up to a good software company to keep up to date with the different viruses that are out there. Most software will update itself with the latest viruses. But you need to make sure that you are updating frequently because once you stop, the odds are that a new virus out there can get on your computer.

Most versions of antivirus software now continue to run in the background of your computer. Especially if you are constantly online, you can get a virus just by visiting a webpage. There are computer hackers out there that can install a virus into your computer from the webpage you are visiting. With the current antivirus software that is out there, if it’s running in the background it will catch the attempt to install the virus, remove it, or quarantine it.

You can buy antivirus software, or you can actually download free versions off of the Internet. Now this may sound funny because downloading something off of the Internet could have a virus on it, but there are websites that have high authority and are trusted to provide freeware that is constantly updated. If your computer is new, you may actually are ready have antivirus software preloaded in the operating system.

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Adware is as annoying as spyware for computer users. What is adware? Adware stands for advertising supported software, it is a software that can automatically play, displays, or downloads ads to your computer after a software has been installed that contains the adware, or even when you are using that specific downloaded application. Certain adware as a matter of fact can be classified as spyware, because it is privacy invasive software.

How does Adware work? Well the advertising functions are built into or perhaps bundled with another software, this software will mark or make notes as to what internet sites you have gone too, and it will go off of this information to pop up advertisements on your computer that match the sites you have visited.

Why do people create Adware? Well sometimes the developer of the software will put in the adware because it is a way to allow him or her to recover the cost of developing the software. At times this may also allow the developer to offer their software for free or a reduced price.

In fact at times the income the developer earns off of these ads may motivate them to create more software with the adware bundled in, or upgrade the current software. Of course when these advertisements pop up on your computer you’re not thinking of the money the developer made, you just thinking how annoying these interruptions are to your work or fun.

Adware can also be known as shareware, although there are shareware that does not have adware bundled with it. The shareware that is advertising supported is adware, while a shareware program that is not supported by ads is just normal shareware. At times a way for the developers to make more money they will offer a registered copy of the shareware and it will promise no advertisements.

Just a few samples of some of the better known programs that have adware bundled with the downloads are as follows:

Adobe Reader
Kazaa
AOL Instant Messenger
Yahoo Messenger
Bonzi buddy
Messenger Plus! Live
Smiley Central
Burn4Free
Comet Cursor
RealPlayer
Gator
Hotbar
Incredimail
WeatherBug
Windows Live Messenger
Zwinky

This is only a partial list of programs, but you can tell some of the more popular downloads have adware bundled with them. So basically be careful at what you download or get an adware remover. I found it amazing that some of these had adware attached to them, while others had messed with my old computer so I had a feeling that something was wrong with the download.

How many people have Yahoo messenger though? Millions if not billions of people, and I bet none of them was aware of the adware being bundled with it. Same with AOL Messenger, again billions have this program downloaded onto their computer, where they aware of the adware?

The biggest surprise I felt was Adobe Reader, I really wouldn’t have guessed that being bundled with adware. It just goes to show you, you truly never know what all you are downloading.

As far as removing adware, there are several programs that will detect and remove adware. In fact some of these choices have the option of removing both adware and spyware. Two horrible things that you can remove at once that is great!

Discover more about computers and registry cleaner from his website. He shares some of his things he learned in 10 years experience. Visit: http://www.registryheal.com/

Many people now opt to build their own computer so that they are more in control of the specifications they want and save more than just a few dollars. There are a multitude of DIYs found all over the Internet, and yes, it is possible to build one yourself! But before doing so, you must choose the right components for your computer. Here are some of the very basic components you need to get:

Computer Case

Computer cases now come in a variety of designs and colours. Some now even come with a panel window where you can see the inside parts through. What is important when buying a case is that the size of the case should support the size of the motherboard. A mid-tower case is highly recommended as it has enough room for all the hardware.

Power Supply

The power supply must provide you at least 300 watts and fit right into the computer case you choose. If you are one of those who extreme users or gamers, you may want to buy a bigger power supply to feed additional cooling, USB devices and case lighting.

Processor

The processor is the most important choice you need to make in setting up your own computer. You have to know exactly what kind and how fast you need. There are a variety of options from AMD and Intel, for example: AMD Athlon, AMD Sempron, AMD Duron, Intel Celeron, Intel Core Duo, among others. If you only use the computer to surf the web, do word processing, gaming and some graphics editing, the 1.8 GHz - 2.0 GHz might be enough. Extreme gaming, 3D rendering and video editing would need at least a 2.4GHz processor.

CPU Cooler

Processors usually come with a fan and a heat sink. But it is best to get a cooler that is more efficient and quieter than the one included in the package. Remember to get a thermal compound to put onto the CPU core.

Motherboard

Choose a motherboard that matches your processor’s socket type and supports the same bus speed as the CPU.

RAM

Similarly, choose a RAM that is compatible with the motherboard’s bus speed. Get at least 512MB of RAM.

Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

The HDD is your permanent storage for system files, applications, documents, games and so on. Get the largest hard drive capacity that you can afford. If you are on a tight budget, you can get at least a 60GB. Most motherboards have IDE slots for hard drives. Newer ones also have SATA connectors for SATA HDDs, which are quite faster than IDE HDDs.

Graphics Card

If you use the computer for regular office work, you can get a motherboard with a built-in video card. If you use it for gaming, you might want to buy a separate video card. Video cards usually use an AGP slot or a PCI Express slot on the motherboard.

Sound Card

Most motherboards have built-in sound cards which generally have good quality. If you use sound mixing or audio/video editing, you can get at least a 24-bit sound card for better quality.

CD/DVD

Of optical drives, it is best to seek for a DVD/CD-RW combo or a DVD+-RW; the latter is a better choice. DVDs have larger capacity to allow you to store more music and movie files and back-up data. If you do not expect to burn disks, you can opt for a CD-R or a DVD-R drive.

This article is distributed by MDofPC LLC MDofPC Custom Computers and Download Software

The Internet is a fantastic tool and is open to absolutely everyone. Unfortunately, some people are not aware of the dangers that exist. You should be made aware of these and learn how to best protect yourself. There are a number of ways to do this:

1) Make sure your Windows Firewall is switched on
2) Make sure you have a good antivirus package installed on your computer and that you regularly update it
3) Never open links from emails if you are unclear about its origin
4) Only download files from trusted websites
5) Only use a credit or debit card online with trusted providers i.e. ClickBank, PayPal etc

These basic points may seem like common sense, but you’d be surprised at how many people make these mistakes. What follows could be a virus infection on their computer, credit card fraud, and a whole host of other problems.

The Internet is a useful tool but has too many problems and dangers. So what else can be done to minimise any risks? Well next time you plan to surf the net, why not use a proxy website? There are loads of proxy sites available on the net, mostly free, so you shouldn’t have a problem finding one.

Proxies act as a middle man between your computer and the Internet. It routes data to you and handles all requests you make on your behalf. This way, when you visit websites, your details like your IP address and other information isn’t disclosed to the website you’re visiting. Instead, they capture the proxy’s details. This is useful if you want to retain a degree on anonymity while you are surfing and also gives you an added layer of protection from virus threats and hackers.

My proxy website is sometimes called Ninja Proxy or Secret Proxy. It has been around for a while now and is getting increasingly popular. All you have to do is visit the address or if you type in Ninja Proxy in Google it should come up. When you are at the site scroll down and locate the URL bar. You will see the http in the box indicating the place of the web address. Once you have entered in all you have to do is hit the GO button and you’re away!

Congratulations, you are now surfing behind an anonymous proxy website and your personal details are safe.

This is just one example of a proxy website that exists online. There are literally thousands of them out there. Another step you might want to take to protect yourself while online is to use an encrypted tunnel. These are particularly useful, especially if you are dealing with sensitive matters like large volume credit card transactions or Internet banking. The way it works is by creating a virtual tunnel between your computer and the server that provides the proxy and encryption services.

All of the data between you and the server and jumbled up. This is the purpose of encryption. This way, if somebody were to intercept and data, all they would get if jumbled up data and not the actual data itself. This would ensure maximum protection and should definitely be thought of seriously if you use a wireless Internet connection. There are numerous software packages available on the Internet that a hacker could purchase.

He could then download it and use it to hack your Internet connection from his computer. He could then steal you bandwidth, download illegal material, and even spy on your surfing habits. This is not meant to scare you but just to make you are of all potential dangers that exist while you are surfing online.

Unfortunately, encryption servers are not free and you will have to pay for it. It is definitely worth the money though and the level of protection you get from it is well worth it.

I hope you find this article useful and that you can use the tips and suggestions outlined to increase your safety and privacy while you surf online. Happy surfing!

Wayne Cutforth is 23 years old and lives in England. He owns and runs his own proxy website or secret proxy, as some call it. His secret proxy can be found here Secret Proxy

Before purchasing of downloading antivirus software there are some features that should look out for. We believe the key factors determining the quality of antivirus software is:

1. Its effectiveness at removing viruses (check independent tests for unbiased results)
2. Its ease of use (normally down to its user interface)
3. Its value for money
4. Its customer and technical support (should be free and 24/7 ideally)
5. Its regularity of updates
6. Its drain on system resources
7. Its compatibility

When all the major criteria were investigated we found that Kaspersky antivirus 7.0 to be the best all round antivirus software on the market day. However, it may not meet your requirements so it is important to do your own investigation using the criteria above. Our findings of some of the top sellers are below. Hopefully this will give you some guidance of what is out there at the moment and what may suit you.

Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7.0
The virus detection technology that drives this software has performed very well in independent tests and gained a strong reputation within the industry. The technical support is excellent and the user interface intuitive.

The other main advantages with it are the parental control features which are not present in other software (great for you parents out there) and the password protected privacy control. We found that it had minimal effect on PC performance (apart from the first scan which did slow things down). Finally, and very importantly it carried out automated hourly updates and real time internet scanning.

The downsides were its price $59.99 and the time it took to do the initial scan.

BitDefender Antivirus 2008
Another very effective piece of antivirus software is BitDefender. its scanning engines are ICSA Labs certifies and it also adds the added bonus of antispyware and antiadware. Gamers should be pleased with the new gamer version which stops annoying pop ups during game play.

A key advantage of this software over others is the rootkit detection and removal feature. Again this is something that sets it over and above the competition. Free 24/7 support and a reasonable price ($24.95) make it a real contender to Kaspersky antvirus 7.0. The downsides to this version are the lack of advanced configuration options which will frustrate the more advanced user. The scans were also on the lengthy side.

Norton Antivirus 2008
Despite having a strong brand and many years of experience developing antivirus software we think Norton Antivirus 2008 to be one of the worst on the market. It does the basics ok but there are too many problems with it to be competitive. For example, there seems to be an assumption only IE users exist. Help terms are geared towards IE users and Browser Defender does not work with any other browsers.

It is a massive 300MB, that is nearly 6 times the size of Kaspersky anti-virus 7.0. The limited performance does not justify this size. It slowed down our machine measurably. The interface was awful and configuring settings was a real pain. Finally, the anti-spyware was not very effective.

These are just three of the big players. Please do your research as the best known are not always the best.

Carl Robinson is a software reviewer from the UK. He writes a series of antivirus software articles for Best Antivirus Downloads