3 Keeping yourself protected

Figure 14

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This shows a needle being injected into a bottle.

Figure 14

The growth in malware has been accompanied by an explosive growth in software designed to prevent it spreading.

So-called antivirus software (which actually targets a range of malware) is a multi-billion pound business with a large number of commercial and free packages available for all computer users ranging from individuals to large corporations.

At the same time, the developers of computer operating systems are incorporating a wider range of security features that try to stop malware running at all.

And there is a lot you can do yourself to keep yourself protected such as installing antivirus software, keeping your software up to date, looking out for the signs of phishing emails and implementing new security developments.

Before you install or change anti-malware software you should check the reviews from a number of reputable and independent organisations. Look at how they rate the free packages as well as the paid for packages.

• https://www.av-test.org/ en/ [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)]
• https://selabs.uk/
• https://www.av-comparatives.org/