Antivirus and spyware infections have been on the rise for years. A recent CNN study actually showed that around 90% of computer have some form of virus or spyware infection on their computer. The most surprising fact was that many of these computer owners had no idea. Their antivirus software could not pick up on the malicious files causing harm to their computer.

All antivirus programs are not created equal. In fact some are close to useless. Many of these free virus removers are free for a reason. They create the illusion that your computer is safe. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. The following are the most important features in deciding on the best antivirus software.

1. The software is constantly updated to protect against the latest threats. People mistakenly believe that their antivirus removers will automatically be able to detect new threats. THIS IS FALSE. Antivirus software is reactive, meaning it can only detect a virus after it has been updated to the threat database. If your software is not updating it’s threat database then it is useless against the latest attacks.

2. Deep scanning of DLL, registry, and startup files. Viruses are very sneaky these days and attach themselves in hidden folders that can evade the detection of typical antivirus tools. Many of these viruses install all kinds of malware sometimes requiring a removal of 50+ dangerous files. The worst part is if any of these files are not deleted the virus will simply regenerate itself completely after the computer restarts. Full detection is a requirement of all the best antivirus software.

3. Real time protection. Detection and removal is only half the battles. One of the most important features is keeping those viruses from infecting your computer in the first place.

Computer viruses are a serious threat to your identity and system. Identity fraud is the #1 cyber crime in the world and viruses are the biggest cause. They use keyloggers and spyware to record sensitive information like passwords, credit card, and bank account numbers. Allowing these viruses to fester on your computer is putting you at risk of financial danger.

If you feel your computer may be infected or are just seeking protection against future threats then I strongly advise downloading an antivirus program that has all three of these features. Fortunately I have found such a program. Have a look and see what I consider the best antivirus software on the internet.