Internet usage is widespread throughout the developed world and its popularity is growing every day. People use the technology of the Internet for many different reasons, from communicating with friends and family through to conducting business and performing research. As the Internet grows and more people spend more of their time online, there are also a number of Internet threats that need to be addressed. Computer viruses, worms, trojans and rootkits are all examples of malicious computer software that can be spread via the Internet. Antivirus software solutions have become sophisticated pieces of software that are capable of dealing with these threats, however, it is important to learn a little about what you are up against in the fight for digital security.

Antivirus software works by identifying and erasing any threatening bits of code that are hidden within a computer. There are a couple of different ways that this software works – either through signature based detection methods or through malicious activity based detection methods. Both of these approaches have their advantages and disadvantages, and any person or business who goes online would be advised to have software that can detect code either way. Signature based detection compares computer code against a database of signature threats, and identifies any potential problems. This method is limited in that it can only identify a certain number of threats which already have to be listed on its database file. Many antivirus solutions implement this kind of detection method, which is why it is important to always have the latest updated version of the program that you are using.

In contrast, malicious activity based detection does not look for a viruses’ signature, but instead monitors computer bahaviour in an attempt to identify any possible threats. This approach is able to identify and remove brand new viruses that it is not aware of before hand. False positives are a problem with this method of detection however, and this can often desensitise users to what can be a real threat. The prominence of always-on broadband connections means that more people are exposed to more possible threats than ever before. It is vital therefore to have a trustworthy antivirus application installed and working on any of your computer equipment that goes online. There are many new antivirus titles like G DATA AntiVirus 2009 that could be of use to everyday users and businesses who are connected to the Internet.