My system is slow and I get popups even with an anti-virus program

Question: I have an anti-virus that I keep up to date but my system is running very slow and I’m having pop-ups. Shouldn’t I be protected from that?

Answer: While it is very important to keep your system and anti-virus updated, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you are protected entirely. There are many different types of security issues that can cause problems on a computer and not all of them are classified as viruses. Spyware, adware, Trojan horses, worms, rootkits and backdoors while often used interchangeably with virus, are actually separate risks for your computer. Many anti-virus programs claim comprehensive security from all of these offenders however, there are often gaps. In addition, any security software can only protect you so far. If you execute suspicious or bundled programs on your system or frequently visit websites with potentially malicious content, there is a good possibility of ending up with spyware or a virus on your system. Ultimately the best anti-virus is common sense and caution. If you are careful about what programs run on your system and exercise caution with websites, you will likely steer clear of serious threats.

If you have a question for our technicians, please email us by clicking here.