What Does Anti Viruses Do?

My dad got me this computer yesterday from hp! he wants to get the anti virus first so i cant use the computer so it wont get any viruses.do we really need the anti virus? can it effect my computer if i dont get a anti virus? how do i get the anti virus? do you have to pay?

What Does Anti Viruses Do?abtuvurys 2005

You do need an antivirus program. If you dont want to buy one now, download a free 90 day trial frome http://onecare.live.com.

Antivirus programs scan your computer for viruses and delete them when they are found. You can get a virus just by surfing the internet, so it is necessary if you're going to be connected at all.

They normally run between $40-$60. There are free antivirus programs, such as Avast! and AVG, but they're not dependable. AVG Free does not automatically scan for viruses, so you have to remember to scan it, or scan when you think you've already got a virus (by then you're normally in trouble). Avast! is a little better, but low quality and, like all free Anti-Virus programs, it is a major target for hackers.

What Does Anti Viruses Do?antivirus programs

Just download a Anti-Virus from download.com for free. A really good one is AVG.

http://www.download.com/AVG-Anti-Virus-F...
Spyware are small files put on your computer from web sites that you visit that monitors your activity and what other web sites you go to and send that info back to where it came from.