Keep Your Antivirus Software Up To Date

SEATTLE - The numbers are astounding. Despite years of annoying and destructive Internet viruses, it's estimated that 2 out of 3 computer users don't have a current antivirus subscription.

Without these regular updates, your PC is wide open to the latest attacks.

"If you have antivirus and it's not downloading the remedies," says Jeff Fox of Consumer Reports Magazine"it's getting close to useless."

In its September issue, Consumer Reports rates the top-selling antivirus software. "If you want a full-featured easy-to-use" program, the editors recommend Trend Mico PC-cillin 2004 or Norton AntiVirus 2004 9.0.

Both cost about $50. Both let you get automatic updates and schedule a full system scan. Because it was the fastest at full system scans, Trend Micro PC-cillin was the top-rated antivirus software Consumer Reports tested. "You know, speed matters," Fox notes, "and Trend Micro Pc-cillin was faster than Norton."

No matter what antivirus protection you have, do yourself a big favor-- pay for the subscription service; then set your computer to automatically go online to get those critical updates.

For More Information:

www.consumerreports.org

www.pcworld.com

www.microsoft.com

Free Vs. Fee Anti-Virus Protection -- www.sfgate.com