Anti Virus & malware   Many folks have free or pre-installed anti virus software on their systems and don’t realize they can still be vulnerable to viruses. In order to ensure that you remain virus free, it is necessary to update your anti virus program and data files on a regular basis. Even then you may still be vulnerable to new viruses that come out before the most recent update is released. When it comes to the ability of anti virus programs to prevent viruses you must examine what program you have. Remember, you get what you pay for. If you have a freebie that’s what you get. If you spend $29.00 on an anti virus program, that’s what you get. If you spend $800.00 on a firewall with anti virus, banner blocker, content filtering and black list capabilities, then that’s what you get.   When it comes to firewalls, most folks ask why they should have one. Well without one you become vulnerable to attack by hackers, viruses, popups, banners and all types of malicious programs. There are basically two types of firewalls, those that provide protection at an application level and those that protect at the network adapter MAC (Media Access Control) level. Those that are applications are not as effective as those that protect at the MAC level. Application level firewalls are programs that are running in memory at the top of the network protocol stack and can be circumvented at the NetBIOS level, where as MAC protection firewalls protect the system where the network or modem cable connects to the computer. Basically MAC level firewalls are much better than programs that offer firewall protection.   DON’T BE FOOLED! You can not expect a freebie or cheap firewall to give you same protection that a hardware firewall can . You can also ask yourself this question. If no one needed a firewall then why do so many people invest in them? Where as if you turn that question around, that being; If other people don’t have a firewall then why should I get one? Well this is foolish thinking. People without firewalls are the ones getting and spreading viruses and malicious code. Think about it, if everyone had a good firewall with anti virus protection, it would put the bad guys out of work and there would be no viruses or at least very few. However since the bad guys know that most people don’t have firewalls or don’t keep their anti virus programs up-to-date, they can continue to proliferate viruses successfully.     For more information on firewalls, contact your computer service provider.