Choosing an antivirus software is an extremely important decision. Most people aren't aware of any antivirus beyond the big dogs: McAfee and Norton. The fact of the matter is that the virus protection landscape is constantly changing, and the most well-known antivirus software providers aren't necessarily the best.

Becoming informed on the latest releases of all of the best antivirus programs is vital. The following resources will arm you with the knowledge you need to make the best decisions for the safety of your business:

1. Study reviews of the latest crop of anti virus protection on consumer research sites.
2. Visit popular weblogs for up to date antivirus news and trends.
3. Read online newsletters for current antivirus reviews, news and forums.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Read reviews and comparisons of all the latest antivirus security software

Consumer review and research sites provide invaluable information about the current range of antivirus protection available. Find out which products are top-ranked by consumers and reviewers.

I recommend: Compare the most popular anti virus software at ConsumerSearch. Read reviews of new and old antivirus programs at CNET Networks.

Visit blogs for the latest news in antivirus program testing and security threats

Virus blogs are a great online resource. Some sites regularly test antivirus software and post the results. Others are maintained by antivirus software companies, and will keep you up to date about all of the most current viral threats.

I recommend: The AV-Comparatives weblog is frequently updated with the latest test reports and virus new bulletins. They regularly perform unbiased, independent tests of the latest antivirus software, and release that information to the general public. F-Secure Security Labs and the Kaspersky Lab both maintain weblogs to keep you abreast of the latest virus threats and news.

Read online newsletters for breaking news and reviews of anti virus software

Most popular print technology magazines have an online presence. Almost everyone has some sort of antivirus program installed on their computer, and these magazines cater to that reality. MaximumPC and Computer Shopper both maintain an online newsletter dedicated to bringing you the latest in antivirus news and information.

I recommend: Future US is Maximum PC's online presence, and they have an online newsletter specifically addressing everything about antivirus programs and viral threats. SX2 Media Labs is the mastermind behind the online ComputerShopper Security Center, which is a guide to buying and using the latest security software.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  With all of the viruses that masquerade as virus removal programs -- such as Antivirus 2008, 2009 and WinAntivirusPro -- knowing who is friend and who is foe is important. In this case, Google is your friend. If you don't recognize the name of an antivirus program, and aren't sure whether to buy it, or download it, Google it first. You'll save yourself endless heartache and money in the long run.

Small biz owners — especially those with growing data stockpiles — are feeling the heat of looming disaster. It can strike from a growing list of sources, including viruses, worms, spam, spyware and phishing. Entrepreneurs now rank computer security among the most crucial survival and growth issues they face. "Any small business that's not worried about computer security isn't paying attention," says Kevin Gilroy, head of HP's small business division.

One reason: Business owners rely more and more on technology all the time, from PCs and servers, to laptops, local networks, wireless devices and broadband Web connections. These have aided productivity, but raised vulnerability.

Data damage or disappearance caused by computer viruses and related ailments can doom your domain. Too many small businesses install protection only after they've suffered a loss. Being proactive now can save your assets later on. Even if you lack formal IT backing like most small businesses, there are many solutions and precautions you can implement solo, such as:

1. Install antivirus software on all desktops, laptops and servers.
2. Use a firewall on all desktops, laptops and servers to block intruders.
3. Keep current with operating system and security software updates to ensure you have the latest protection.
4. Create strong passwords with at least eight characters combining alphanumeric and special characters. Change passwords from time to time.
5. Open email responsibly. Never open attachments from unknown senders and do not respond to spam. Email containing junk ads can carry viruses.

Business.com's "What Works for Business" blog is a great way to keep up with the latest solutions, trends and strategies for small and medium business — including computer security and virus protection.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Secure your computers with anti-virus software

Symantec and McAfee are terrific small business resources for computer security products, services and information.

I recommend: Symantec has many anti-virus software products for small business. Solutions include basic anti-virus, anti-virus for handhelds, anti-virus for Macintosh and a multi-user pack. Also get a free virus scan, browse articles on computer security, upgrade anti-virus products and sign up for Webcasts. Archrival McAfee also offers a full line of computer security software and services for small business and home office. McAfee Total Protection for Small Business is an all-in-one service that blocks viruses, spyware, spam, phishing, hacker attacks and identity thieves from desktop PCs, servers and email.

Manage anti-virus security updates with Microsoft and HP

Both computer giants offer a wide range of computer security solutions.

I recommend: Microsoft offers security info and software at its Web site. Download Microsoft Office security updates.Take a quick (20-30 minute) online security training course. Sign up to receive the Microsoft Security Updates. HP has several solutions that can help you manage anti-virus security across your entire business.

Raise your computer security I.Q.

The National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) is an organization dedicated to raising Internet security awareness.

I recommend: The small business section of Stay Safe Online offers security tips on safeguarding your systems as well as a self-guided security test, educational materials and other handy resources.

Use an outside service to secure your email

Hosted email services help many businesses eliminate email security threats.

I recommend: Webmail.us offers small business e-mail services (using your own domain name) with built-in spam filtering and virus protection. Their "no software-no hardware" approach is designed to maintain your entire e-mail system so you can concentrate on other matters.

Discover niche anti-virus software providers

You don't have to limit your search to the big names.

I recommend: Norman (not to be confused with Norton, from Symantec) offers a full line of software for virus, Internet, spam, e-mail and download control. Other options include: Sophos, Panda Software and Computer Associates.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Teach employees to safely use email. The first rule of thumb is never open suspicious or unsolicited attachments. Avoid responding in any way to spam, especially links that claim you will be removed from the spammer's list.
• •  Don't let employees use peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing Web sites and applications.
• •  Warn employees about the dangers of downloading applications from unknown sites.
• •  Keep all operating systems, software and security measures up to date. Older versions are more vulnerable.
• •  Install a 'firewall' to block incoming traffic that is not needed for your business.
• •  If you discover a PC is infected, take it off your network (if you have one) so that fixes can be installed.

The pricing and costs of antivirus vary depending on how much protection you need, how many computers need to be protected, and the type of business. As a small business owner, you should ensure that every computer in your office is safeguarded with antispyware and antivirus software. If you work in the IT department of a large corporation, your needs are more complex. Larger companies need an antivirus program with centralized administration; one that can protect vital resources such as the company Exchange server.

Whether you are running a home office with three computers, or presiding over hundreds of employees in a large corporation, there is anti virus software that meets your needs and your budget:

1. Protect your office network with the most competitively priced enterprise antivirus programs.
2. Purchase affordable small business antivirus software.
3. Get the best free anti virus protection for your home or small office.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Purchase business antivirus programs to cheaply and centrally administer your corporate network

With a little digging, you can find antivirus software providers that will provide you with enterprise level support for mere dollars per computer. Volume discounts apply. The more licenses you purchase, the lower your cost per individual license.

I recommend: Download a 30 day trial of F-PROT corporate antivirus from FRISK Software International. If you like it, it's only a few dollars per computer per year to secure your network. After a couple years, the price goes down even further. Avast! Enterprise from ALWIL Software is comparable in price, and comes with a 60 day trial.

Protect your small business network with the most affordable, effective business antivirus programs

Small business need affordable antivirus protection as well. For less than $500 for two years, you can protect between five and ten office computers. These Small Business Editions of award-winning antivirus software outperform the big dogs on protection and price.

I recommend: Sophos Computer Security Small Business Edition outperformed McAfee and Symantec in independant tests. You can try it for free for thirty days, our purchase it outright for under $500. Trend Micro also offers a free trial of their Worry-Free business security software. Their software will protect ten users for two years for under $500.

Protect your budget with free antivirus software for your home office

You recognize the need for protection, but simply can't afford the expense of a more robust antivirus solution. Some protection is better than none, and even a free antivirus will protect you from the majority of threats, particularly when paired with a free antispyware program.

I recommend: Avira AntiVir Personal is the free edition of Avira's award-winning antivirus program. It is only available for single computer use. You can also download Avast! Home Edition from Anti-Virus-Solution.com. This also is for single computer use. You must register with an email address, but registration is free. Avast! provides email scanning and other support not generally found in free antivirus.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  A free antivirus solution will work if you're running a home office from one computer. Anything more than that, and you'll have to shell out for multiple licenses. More than one antivirus company offers three-license versions of their software for cheaper than just purchasing three distinct software packages. This fills the gap between a small business antivirus solution and a single computer workspace.

As the popularity of the Internet has grown, computers have become an integral part of nearly every business in the country. The advent of high-speed Internet has created a situation where most computers are connected to the Internet at least eight hours a day. That high degree of connectivity brings with it an equal amount of risk. Almost every computer now has some kind of anti-virus protection, and if it doesn't, it should. Learn how different parts of your anti-virus program work together to protect you by understanding anti-virus terminology.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Virus definition files and virus database

Most anti-virus programs update on a regular basis by downloading the most current virus definition files and placing them in a virus database. Included in these files are signatures for all known viruses. A virus signature is a unique sequence of bytes that identifies malicious code.

I recommend: The Raymond.CC Blog explains how to update virus definition files for the most popular anti-virus programs even if your computer isn't connected to the Internet.

Heuristic analysis

Heuristic analysis is used by anti-virus programs to detect viruses that aren't contained in the virus definition file. It detects these previously unknown viruses by several different methods. One method involves decompiling a suspicious program - breaking down and analyzing the source code and comparing it to known virus codes. Another method is to run the suspicious file in a virtual machine, allowing the anti-virus to see what the file will do without allowing it to interact with your computer. Heuristic analysis can suffer from false positives.

I recommend: Learn about heuristic analysis at the Kaspersky Lab.

Anti-virus engine

The heart of any anti-virus product is the anti-virus engine. The engine finds and removes malicious code. The reliability and security level of your anti-virus program is determined by the quality and sophistication of its engine.

I recommend: Learn more about how an anti-virus scanning engine works at Guard Privacy & Online Security. For a more in-depth discussion on how anti-virus engines are developed, check out Security Focus.

Rootkit scanner, or rootkit detector

Rootkits are particularly nasty viruses that are very effective at hiding other malware, trojans or viruses from your anti-virus program. Rootkit detectors are specialized to find and remove these threats. Some anti-virus programs, like Avira Antivir, include a rootkit scanner. There are also many stand-alone rootkit detectors to choose from, such as the free Panda Anti-Rootkit.

I recommend: Check out the best free rootkit scanners at Gizmo's Freeware.

Intrusion-detection systems, or intrusion-prevention systems

Intrusion-detection systems (IDS) are included in some anti-virus suites, such as Norton 360. They can also be called intrusion-prevention systems, or IPS. They protect your computer from external attacks by analyzing traffic that flows into and through your network. There are also third-party IDS that can be either installed on individual computers or deployed on the network to monitor entire network segments.

I recommend: Read about the top five stand-alone intrusion-detection systems at Insecure.

Personal firewall

Most anti-virus programs include a software-based personal firewall component that is more robust than the Windows firewall. This integrated firewall protects a single computer from hacker attacks. Different personal firewalls have different degrees of fine tuning built in.

I recommend: Read reviews of over 60 personal firewall products at Firewall Guide. Learn more about how firewalls work at How Stuff Works.