• Anti-virus programs provide affordable protection against online threats to your system.notebook pc image by Albo from Fotolia.com
  
  Viruses and malware programs are a constant threat to the computers of anyone who surfs the Internet, and infection can lead to expensive system failures and loss of valuable data. Anti-virus software provides an inexpensive shield against this threat, offering protection against viruses, trojans and malware, and often providing enhanced firewalls for further protection.
  
  

Kaspersky Anti-Virus 2011

• Kaspersky's Anti-Virus 2010 is designed to protect the integrity of passwords and personal information used in online transactions in addition to providing anti-virus protection. Kaspersky's software is designed to install even on infected systems, rescuing PCs that have been corrupted, and its emerging-threat detection system will continually monitor a computer for any suspicious processes so that dormant threats can be detected and eliminated before they can harm a system.
  
  Anti-Virus 2010's vulnerability scan feature checks existing programs to determine which have the potential to be exploited by trojans and malware due to not having the latest patches or updates. The software's gamer mode blocks pop-ups and reduces the program's use of system resources to the bare minimum required to provide a smoother online gaming experience. Kaspersky provides free technical support through email, chat and phone.
  
  

McAfee AntiVirus Plus 2010

• McAfee AntiVirus Plus 2010 provides antivirus protection and a two-way firewall, and its Active Protection technology is designed to provide updates that can block the newest viruses and malware almost as soon as they're distributed online. AntiVirus Plus' SiteAdvisor works in conjunction with 22 search engines to provide users with information about websites within search results that present potential system threats.
  
  AntiVirus Plus comes with a one-year license for a single computer. McAfee provides free unlimited tech support through email and chat and offers 30 days of free phone support.
  
  

Norton AntiVirus 2011

• Norton AntiVirus 2011 comes with a firewall against hackers and malware along with its anti-virus protection, and the software evaluates any file downloaded or opened as an attachment, deleting it if AntiVirus 2011 deems it a system threat. Norton Reputation Service analyzes where malware and viruses originated, along with how long they've circulated, and uses this data to identify new threats as they emerge online.
  
  AntiVirus 2011 incorporates Norton's Sonar 3 Behavioral Protection technology, which monitors the computer it's installed on to identify and neutralize system threats. Norton provides free technical support to subscribers through e-mail, chat and user forums and over the phone.