Security software: Choosing the best antivirus software Do I really need antivirus software?

Security suites offer a variety of software in one package

It's very important to install antivirus software on your PC and we’ll be discussing all the different types of security software that are available in detail in this section of our guide

Precisely what software you need depends on a number of factors. Depending on the type of computer you have, it may already come with certain security features installed on it. Some types of computer are also innately less prone to certain types of security threat.

Read our FAQs on security software suites

Apple Macs

Apple Mac computers have traditionally been thought of as much more secure than Windows PCs, but this is certainly no excuse for complacency.

The OS X operating system is built in such a way that protects well against hackers gaining access to programs and system files. It's also true that there are far fewer viruses written for Apple computers.

But if you own a Mac and use the internet, then you are still open to many of the same issues that affect Windows PC users, including phishing, spam email, browser vulnerabilities and ID theft. And there’s no guarantee that malware won’t eventually affect Apple computers on a larger scale too.

Apple Macs do not come with any anti-virus or anti-spyware software. OS X has a built-in firewall but it is usually not switched on by default. To turn it on, go to Apple Menu > System Preferences > Security, click the Firewall tab and click Start.

Some of our Best Buy security suites will protect your Macintosh Computer

Apple Firewall

The OS X firewall only works one way, blocking any unauthorised incoming traffic but leaving outgoing activity unmonitored.

This could pose a potential threat should a hacker or malware program, for instance, hijack your computer in order to send outgoing information from your Mac to an ID thief. It’s possible – but complicated – to configure the firewall yourself but you may want to consider installing some additional protection – see here for more.

If you use Apple’s own web browser, Safari, then it has a number of its own security features. It can detect many phishing scams and fraudulent websites, for example, and can block pop-up windows.

As with all software, it’s vital to keep your browser up-to-date in order to maintain the proper level of protection.

The Microsoft Windows 7 desktop

Windows 7, Vista or XP PCs

Security is a significant issue for users of Microsoft Windows PCs. It is estimated that the vast majority of all malware is designed to target Windows systems specifically.

This is partly due to easily exploitable security flaws inherent in early versions of Windows but is also a symptom of Microsoft’s success; more malware is created for Windows PCs simply because the operating system accounts for around 90 per cent of all PCs on the planet.

Microsoft has made many improvements to the security of Windows over the years and continues to work hard to uncover and fix potential vulnerabilities. That’s why it’s vital to keep your PC up to date with all the latest bug fixes and improvements as soon as they are released.

Vista comes with a built-in anti-spyware program

Windows security tools

Windows PCs have a number of built-in security tools. Windows 7, Vista and XP all come with a built-in Firewall, while Windows 7 and Vista have additional protection in the shape of an anti-spyware tool called Windows Defender and a feature called User Account Control, which limits access to many vital files and system resources.

Windows XP users can download Defender for free

Microsoft’s web browser, Internet Explorer, also features some security features, including a pop-up blocker, an anti-phishing tool and customisable privacy settings.

Windows Firewall is usually switched on by default but you can double-check by going to Start > Control Panel, choosing Classic View (or Large icons in Windows 7) and double-clicking on the Windows Firewall icon.

Windows XP’s firewall is designed to block incoming traffic and is unable to monitor outgoing activity at all. It’s possible – but very complicated – to set the firewall in Windows 7 and Vista to monitor outgoing activity as well but it might be easier to simply install a separate firewall yourself. In addition, Windows doesn’t feature any built-in anti-virus protection and this will need to be added separately.