ADVANTAGES OF USING ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE

 

ADVANTAGES OF USING 

ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE

 

Antivirus software is a data security utility that is installed on a computer system for the purpose of protecting against viruses, spyware, malware, root-kits  Trojans, phishing attacks, spam attacks, and other online cyber threats.

Let's know a little about the Virus .

A virus is any unwanted program that enters a user's system without their knowledge. It can self-replicate and spread. It performs unwanted and malicious actions that end up affecting system performance and user data / files. A computer virus can be thought of as a computer disease, much like human viruses that cause disease in humans.

And what about antivirus ?

Antivirus software, as its name suggests, is a program that works against a virus. It detects or recognizes the virus and, after detecting the presence of the virus, works to remove it from the computer system. Antivirus software works as a prophylactic so that it not only removes a virus, it also prevents any potential viruses from infecting your computer in the future.

Why do you need antivirus software?

A system without antivirus is like a house with an open door. An open and unprotected door will attract all intruders and burglars into your home. Similarly, an unprotected computer will end up inviting all viruses into the system. An antivirus will act as a closed door with a security guard for your computer defending itself from all malicious intruder viruses. So will you leave your door open to intruders?

What harm can a virus do to your computer?

In case your computer is attacked by a virus, it can affect your computer in the following ways:

• Slow down the computer
• Damage or delete files
• Format the hard drive
• Frequent computer crashes
• Data loss
• Inability to perform any task on the computer or on the Internet

Antivirus software is like a bright ray of light in a world full of dark viruses. The amount of advantages they offer are innumerable. Some of the most outstanding advantages are:

Protection against viruses and their transmission

Antivirus software primarily performs a prophylactic function. It detects any potential viruses and then works to remove them. Keep in mind that all of this is done primarily before the virus actually damages the system. So this means that most viruses are countered before they damage your systems. An antivirus can fight many viruses in a single day without your knowledge. Avast and Norton are some of the most popular antivirus programs available on the market these days.

If a virus has attacked your system, it can potentially transfer it to your friends, family, and networks. So, if you want to protect your computer system, as well as the computers of your acquaintances, consider getting an antivirus .

Block spam and ads

If you take a quick survey on how viruses enter your victims' computer systems, you will be amazed at the proportion of viruses that use pop-up ads and websites to enter their computers. Pop-up ads and spam websites are one of the most commonly used gateways for viruses to infect your computer and then damage your files.

Software like Bull guard Internet Security works against these malicious websites and ads that contain viruses by blocking their direct access to your computer network.

Defence against hackers and data thieves

Hackers often use a malware or virus program to gain access to their victim's computer. They install malware on the computer without the victim's knowledge. Hackers do this by sending malicious emails to victims. So the hacker can easily hack into your desired files and programs.

After that, they can use the victim's data according to their will; they can erase it or damage it and steal it to demand a ransom later. Antimalware such as Malwarebytes put an anti-hacking block in place or perform regular scans for the presence of any hackers or hacking-based programs on the computer network. Therefore, antivirus software provides complete protection against hackers.

Ensures protection of removable devices

Think about the times you have transferred data to and from your computer using removable devices like USB. Countless, right?

You may have experienced a slowdown of your computer or a computer crash after connecting a friend's USB. Ever wonder why that happened? This is so because the USB or removable device served as a transmission device for a virus. So should you stop using removable devices because you never know which USB might contain a virus?

Not! Just get antivirus software that will scan all removable devices for potential viruses to make sure no viruses are transferred.

Protect your data and files

Antivirus software monitors all files that enter your system. All those files are scanned for any quirks or malice. Viruses can easily spread to your network via infected files, and these, in turn, can damage your data and files. You may even suffer the total loss of your valuable data at the hands of such viruses.

An Avira solution The software ensures that your data and files are adequately protected.

Power up your PC

Think of two computers side by side.

One suffers the consequences of a virus attack, such as slow processing speed and frequent crashes. The other is protected by antivirus. Which of the two will have better speed?

The one with secure antivirus. This is because that computer has no problems because the antivirus has stopped the virus before it can cause real damage. Some antivirus can even remove and delete useless files from unknown sources to free up disk space, increasing the speed of the PC.

Firewall protection against phishing and spyware attacks

A firewall, in general, monitors incoming and outgoing traffic on your computer network. When combined with an antivirus, firewall protection double-checks every file or piece of data that you send or transfer from your computer over the Internet to another network.

The same is true for files and data that you receive from an external network. You can inadvertently open a frankly malicious website or email and then fall victim to a phishing attack. A phishing attack occurs when attackers specifically target your login credentials, credit card information, or any other personal information / details. Such an attack can result in substantial financial loss or personal loss. Two-way firewall protection against antivirus software like Avast blocks and removes such emails or files that may damage you in any way.

Limit access to websites to improve web protection

Accessing unauthorized websites can expose your computer system to various cyber threats, including spyware, hackers, ransomware, etc. These threats can put your data and files at risk. Antivirus software limits your access to the web to restrict your activities on unauthorized networks. This is done to ensure that you only access websites that are safe and harmless to your computer system.

Watch the children

The biggest headache for parents in these advanced times is that their children can openly access anything over the Internet, be it good or bad.

A parent cannot always keep an eye on what their children are doing on the computer. And they can't educate their kids about the good and bad network all the time because kids are easily upset. Antivirus software can be the solution for such worrying parents. It can provide a monitoring tool through which you can monitor your children's activities in a safe but efficient way. Antivirus software provides you with adequate records of your children's activities. ESET is one of the most prominent antivirus that offers parental control.

Protect your password

Protect your valuable data and accounts with a password, and then believe that your data and accounts are protected.

But what if someone steals your passwords with a virus?

The password thief can later blackmail you for ransom or use your password to access confidential information. In addition to using antivirus, you can also think about using a password manager for added security

Economic

Most of the antivirus software is quite profitable. The monthly or annual packages offered by antivirus manufacturers are inexpensive. If you consider the variety of services that come with the premium antivirus package, you will surely think that the cost they are offering is much lower.

On top of that, if you are on a tight budget and don't want to spend money to buy the premium version of antivirus, then you can get antivirus for free .

Is Your Computer Better Without Antivirus Software?

A virus attack can cause as much damage as force you to buy a new computer because your old computer has been damaged beyond repair. Not having a protection mechanism for your computer system is like inviting viruses onto your computer by providing them with a clear and accessible entrance.

Do you ever want to damage your computer with your own hands and of your own free will? If not, get antivirus software as soon as possible so that you can use your computer without the constant fear of being the victim of a virus attack.

 

Updating Antivirus & Detection of Fake Software

 Updating Antivirus & Detection of 

Fake Software

As we have seen so far, the best way for users to keep our computers protected from possible cyber-attacks , and above all to be able to keep all the information we store on the PC, smartphone or tablet safe is through the use of antivirus software.

 

In this way we can ensure that different malicious software that for any type of error is installed on our computer, is immediately detected by the antivirus and thus avoid the damage that it could cause . However, it is always important not only to choose the antivirus that we believe is effective to carry out this task, but also to make sure that it is always up to date.

 

However, a concern that most users have is to know how often it is necessary to update the antivirus . The truth is that the answer in principle will depend on the possible updates that the developers of the antivirus in question make available for download.

 

At the same time, we must also bear in mind that depending on the use we give to our computer, the frequency with which we must update the antivirus will also depend on it , although of course the ideal is to be aware of the new updates released by the manufacturers of this software.

 

Let us bear in mind that the antivirus update is as important as the installation of this software itself , since the truth is that just installing an antivirus program will not be enough protection, because new, more powerful viruses are constantly emerging for users. which without the corresponding update the antivirus will not be prepared to face it. The moment we install an antivirus on our computer, this software is ready to detect and take the necessary measures against viruses that are circulating at that time. With the appearance of new viruses almost every day, antiviruses require add-ons that allow you to add tools against these new viruses .

 

In this way, when we keep our computer's antivirus up-to-date, it can detect and recognize new threats that until now were not included in its database , but which became so when we updated the antivirus program. That is why what manufacturers and antivirus developers usually recommend is that we update the software, and that we also perform a periodic scan of our computer.

 

In general, those users who daily use the computer to connect to the internet and make use of online tools are recommended to check every day or at least every other day if there is a new antivirus update . In the case of those who use the computer less frequently and tend to connect sporadically to the Internet, or they tend to surf only always in a set of common sites, the ideal is to verify that there is a new update of the antivirus software once a week .

 

On the other hand, we must take into account that a large proportion of antivirus that are used today have the functionality of allowing the user to configure periodic updates automatically.

With this methodology, the antivirus program will be updated automatically every day or when the computer is connected to the Internet , which allows us to worry less and not have to be pending to verify software updates, so the best option, and The most recommended is to use an antivirus that offers the possibility of carrying out automatic updates each time a new program update is launched.

 

How to detect if an Antivirus is fake?

Just as we need the installation of an antivirus program to be able to protect our computer, tablet or smartphone from possible attacks, it is also important to bear in mind that we cannot install any software that appears as an antivirus , since in many cases there are malicious programs that pretend to be antivirus to infect our computer.

 

For this reason, it is always good to take into account some guidelines that allow us to determine if an antivirus software is really what it claims to be, or if it is a malicious program that will install a virus on our computer and cause damage that can even come to represent the loss of information stored in the PC. In this sense, we must consider some issues that can generate suspicions that we find ourselves facing a virus that pretends to be an antivirus. One of the main things to keep in mind is to avoid downloading antivirus software from unofficial sites.

 

Today there are hundreds and hundreds of program download sites that offer us access to quality software completely free of charge, and in many cases when we believe that we are downloading and installing an antivirus, it is possible that it is actually malicious software .

Therefore, what is always recommended is to download the antivirus software from the official website of the program manufacturer , and of course, that this software is widely known and prestigious among users around the world.

 

This is undoubtedly one of the aspects that we must always take into account when choosing the antivirus that we are going to install on our computer, but there are also a series of guidelines that can tell us when an antivirus is false. Here are some of the most frequent tracks:

·       Rogue antivirus software usually does not offer a trial period.

·       Rogue antivirus software may install itself, automatically through our approval.

·       Fake antivirus software can pretend to be our computer's operating system through pop-up windows.

·       Rogue antivirus software usually doesn't include an easy way for us to uninstall it. It may not directly include this option.

·       The fake antivirus software will usually ask us for immediate payment in order to use it.

·       Fake antivirus software usually finds hundreds of viruses on our computer, and immediately shows us urgent messages so that we pay what they ask for and thus be able to start cleaning.

 

Finally, it is worth mentioning that there is a type of fake antivirus known by the name of scareware , which broadly consists of software that will show us pop-up windows in which we will be informed that our computer is being infected and attacked by a virus .

 

Therefore, the message will inform us that to eliminate the supposed virus we must pay the corresponding money that the tool costs that will allow us to eliminate the virus that attacks us.

 

Fortunately, scareware can be easily identified by even the most novice users, since this type of malicious software still continues to use pop-up windows that have an old visual appearance , such as those that operating systems showed many years ago, and this allows users not to fall for the trap.

 

 

How Rogueware can be Threat for PCs

When it comes to browsing the Internet, there are many threats that we can face. There are many types of malware and other dangers lurking on the web. However, we can also count on many tools and methods with which to defend ourselves. Of course, hackers are always looking for ways to perfect their techniques. In this article we are going to talk about what Rogueware is. It is a type of threat that puts our computers at risk through false messages. We are going to explain what it consists of and, most importantly, how to avoid being victims.

What is Rogueware?

The Rogueware is just one of the many threats that exist on the network and can infect our devices. This time it is malicious software that pretends to be an antivirus or security tool that launches an alert indicating that something is wrong with our computer.

There are many security tools that we have at our disposal. Users always seek to have a good antivirus and other varieties of software that can protect us. However, sometimes we can find false messages, alerts that pretend to be from the antivirus or another legitimate tool but that is actually a threat.

Just that is Rogueware. Basically we can say that they are messages that appear to us when we browse, for example, and indicate that our computer has malware, that there is a problem or threat that must be corrected. It offers us the possibility of clicking on a button or link that shows us and through that downloads supposed software to correct the problem. What happen? As we can imagine by clicking on that link we are actually downloading the malware. What we really do is add malicious software to our computer.

How Rogueware Attacks?

Rogueware is mainly based on mistakes that users make. As we have seen, they are messages that can appear when browsing the Internet or even when using another tool. Those messages, those alerts, are going to require user interaction. That is the good news, because if we do not take any action it will not infect us.

The hackers want the victim to click on the links they offer to supposedly fix the computer, update some faulty software, etc. Many hackers use poison techniques to inject code into websites. In this way, they show the messages that victims receive to later offer that malicious software.

However, sometimes these threats arrive after we have previously installed some type of maliciously modified software or that contains adware. For example some extension for the browser.

How to protect ourselves from Rogueware

Luckily, it is very easy to protect ourselves from Rogueware. The main and most important thing is common sense. We have seen that hackers are going to need user interaction to deploy their attacks. They are going to need us to click a link or download something. Therefore, simply by always keeping common sense in mind, by not making mistakes of this type, we will have a lot of gains.

Security tools will also be essential. A good Antivirus, as well as other varieties of security software, can prevent the entry of viruses and other threats like these. We have many free and paid options at our disposal. It is something that we must apply to any device or system that we are using.

On the other hand, something that cannot be missing is to keep the equipment and systems updated correctly. On many occasions, vulnerabilities arise that can put our security at risk. Those flaws can be exploited by hackers to deploy their attacks. Therefore, always having the latest patches installed in our operating system, as well as in any tool that we use, is going to be essential.

 

Secure Business with Antivirus Software

 

Secure Business with Antivirus Software

Do you have all the digital security tools your company needs?

A few days ago, Everis, one of the largest IT consultancies in Spain, was the victim of a ransomware attack that forced it to turn off all its computer systems. In addition to Everis, other important companies in Spain were also attacked. Among these, was SER, one of the most important radio stations in Spain?  To achieve their objectives, the attackers exploited the Blue Keep RDP; a Windows vulnerability that Microsoft had resolved in May of this year. 

Apparently these companies were careless and did not apply the corrective patch to their systems in time. Which left a door wide open for hackers to launch their attack?  What do you think about this news? Sounds quite disturbing, right? Unfortunately, security incidents have become a daily occurrence. The worst thing is that these types of cases continue to show us that cybercriminals never rest. 

On the contrary, they are always on the lookout for a fault to appear; a weak point that allows them to profit by illegally entering a corporate system.  Thanks to this, comprehensive protection is more necessary than ever. Well, underestimating the importance of a robust cybersecurity strategy is a mistake that can cost organizations dearly.  We have already seen that any company, regardless of its size, can be the victim of an attack. Do you have the correct measures and tools to protect your systems from end to end? 

Find out with this article that exposes the 5 types of digital security tools that every company should have.  Do not be left with the doubt and find out which ones your systems already have and which others you should run to look for now. 

 

 

Why have digital security tools in the company? 

If the previous history is not enough reason to make clear the importance of having advanced digital security tools within the company; Here are some key factors that might convince you:  According to a study by Cisco, cybercrime is relatively much more profitable than all drug trafficking operations in the world combined. According to a Net-scout research, hacking an unprotected IOT device only takes 5 min.  Professional hacking tools of all kinds can be found on the Dark Web. These tools are becoming increasingly sophisticated, increasing the effectiveness of cybercriminal attacks. 

It takes companies at least 6 months to detect a security breach.  According to IBM, only 38% of companies worldwide have declared that they are equipped to respond effectively to large-scale cyber attacks.  Alarming, right? The good news is that the good guys are also working hard to create strategies and solutions to reduce and eventually completely disappear the impact of digital threats. 

Thanks to this, companies, by implementing the correct tools, can obtain a complete view of their attack surfaces and thus guarantee the protection of their digital assets. 

5 types of digital security tools that every company should have 

# 1 Next-generation firewall

Although some may consider them obsolete or unimportant; the reality is that firewalls or firewalls are indispensable tools for blocking threats.  

It is true that older firewalls have very simple structures; as a consequence there are only two options to open or close their traffic flow. This meant that in most cases, this type of protection was only effective for the simplest threats. However, even though cybercriminals have developed techniques capable of bypassing these old firewalls without problems; Today there are some more advanced versions capable of classifying files according to many parameters. 

This type of tool inspects web traffic, identifies users, blocks unauthorized access and provides protection even against next-generation viruses. 

# 2 Antivirus software

Any equipment or device that connects to the network, be it personal or corporate, must necessarily have an antivirus. Why? Because these programs are essential when it comes to detecting infections by malware or other types of malicious elements.  In addition to this, current antivirus software provides useful protection measures such as quarantine and removal of potential threats. Today there are antivirus with functionalities and licenses that are adapted to the needs of the user, or in this case the company. 

Attention! Be careful about trusting your systems to free software. These types of solutions often lack the necessary updates to keep up with the latest threats. Ideally, you should consider purchasing a paid tool. 

# 3 Remote monitoring software 

A remote monitoring tool gives the IT team the opportunity to monitor, diagnose and collect information from all applications and hardware at different points on the network, remotely.   All this information allows administrators to resolve, regardless of time or place, any incident that occurs. In order to keep the network and its workstations in good condition.

# 4 Proxy 

 The proxy is a tool that serves as an intermediary between the browser and the internet. One of its greatest advantages is that it allows filtering rules to be applied based on the company's IT security policy. 

Which means that through it you can block websites that you consider dangerous; or prohibited within the workspace? Also, through a Proxy it is possible to create an authentication system to limit access to the external network, with the possibility of keeping records about pages, number of visits, etc. 

# 5 Vulnerability scanner

Another of the digital security tools like Internet Security Software  that cannot be missing in your company. The vulnerability scanner is the software in charge of detecting, evaluating and managing any weak point that may exist in the system.  With these types of tools you can identify and prioritize vulnerabilities to eliminate them and thus reduce your attack surfaces. Also, this class of solutions is used to perform both internal system scans and web applications. 

These are just some of the digital security tools that cannot be missing from your company. Remember, for your security strategy to truly work; you must combine the solutions with measures that also take into account the human factor. 

So don't hesitate to make the members of your company play an active role in protecting the systems. Keep threats at bay and carry out your processes with complete peace of mind with the help of the right solutions. 

 

Categories of Viruses & Antivirus to Cure Computers

 

Categories of Viruses & Antivirus to Cure Computers

1. Basic virus

It is the simplest and oldest type of virus, created with the aim of hindering the operation of processor operating systems, slowing down their performance. You can also erase information stored on computers. Its arrival on the computer can occur through the downloading of programs that the system recognizes as safe. From this, the other types of malware that exist on the Internet are generated.

2. Trojans

After basic viruses, Trojans are the most famous group of viruses out there. Their strength lies in the fact that they achieve a level of camouflage that may go unnoticed by some versions of antivirus. It is a malware frequently used by programmers and is housed in various applications and files of the operating system. Mobile versions have even been created , where its effect can be much more lethal. It is linked to questionable email attachments, and unofficial license programs. It is fought with antivirus and antitrojans.

3. Worms

It is essentially a virtual virus, which can then stay on the computer indefinitely. Its favorite place is the RAM memory and it reaches it while we surf the Internet, managing to slow down the process. You can generate automatic replicas and travel through all the network systems that exist. It is controlled with antivirus and firewall.

4. Spyware

It is a more specialized class of virus, as it is basically a spyware. Its objective is to steal absolutely all the information on your computer and pass it on to its owner. It is one of the main avenues for the success of cybercrime.

It can be diagnosed when our default browser is replaced or when toolbars are installed whose presence we have not requested. They remain in our equipment because they are silently housed and are installed again when we turn on our equipment. To control it, you need a good antivirus, frequently update browser versions and, if possible, download their security add-ons.

5. Rogueware

It is a fake antivirus that is offered to us as a solution to detected threats. It is present in various environments for illegal downloading of files, adult content, free programs, etc. It is controlled by developing the security measures mentioned above.

6. Ransomware

This type of virus is much more specialized than the previous ones. It is designed to enter our computer and block it until the will of the owner of the virus is done. Generally, he is blackmailed into revealing passwords. It is recommended not to succumb to blackmail and to inform you properly about this threat.

7. Keylogger

It is aimed at recording, capturing and collecting all the keyboard movements performed by you regularly. They are accompanied by Trojans and can be installed not only digitally, but also through devices. Your goal is to steal information and blackmail.

How to avoid them:

1. Install a quality antivirus

Many people trust the free antivirus that come with Windows or Internet Explorer. However, these programs do not represent adequate protection against the growing list of digital threats. It is suggested to install professional grade antivirus on computers.

2. Install protection against real-time Trojans

Many users think that having an antivirus program that includes protection against Trojans and spyware (spyware) is sufficient.

3. Keep your antivirus programs updated

New threats to digital security arise every day, which is why updating our protection programs is mandatory.

4. Perform daily scans

Occasionally, a virus escapes the active protection of the antivirus and infects the system. Scheduling daily scans of the entire hard drive can prove invaluable in detecting, isolating, and removing harmful programs.

5. Disable the “Auto-run” or Auto-run

Some viruses operate by adding to external devices such as USB / Flash drives, External Hard Drives or Network Drives. Windows users can disable the auto-run function by following the instructions according to their operating system version.

6. Don't "click" on links in emails or attachments

Sometimes by distraction, users end up "clicking" on attachments they receive by email, even knowing that it is a risky action for their computers. Once this is done, the result may not be seen at the moment, but a virus or Trojan may be acting on the computer's memory, recording and stealing information.

7. Browse smart

Major browsers have protection mechanisms that notify us when we approach a potentially harmful website. However, it is vital to be careful when sharing personal information over the Internet. Always check if the page where it seems that we are is indeed trustworthy. Check if the URL is for the organization or company. Some hackers install web pages with an identical design to the original to confuse us.

 

Free Antivirus Software for Schools

 

Free Antivirus Software for Schools

Introduction.

In today's world, educational centers have great budgetary limitations, especially Public Education, which means that it is not always possible to have the financial resources to be able to acquire the necessary computer equipment, both hardware and software. When carrying out a simple analysis, it is obvious that the outlay that would be necessary to pay for the licenses of the software that is required in these institutions is almost the same that would have to be made to buy the PCs.

For this reason, the National Education System is preparing to make major changes in the use of Computer Science, while it is proposed to change the official work platform of the currently used Microsoft Windows Operating System to GNU / Linux, based on the standards of what it is known as Free Software.

For these reasons, it is necessary to implement policies, strategies that allow raising the level of knowledge of teachers to work with the new Operating System.

Development

GNU / Linux has several advantages that can be used by the Education System, such as the large amount of software available. Regardless of what you need, you can count on finding a development that meets at least the minimum requirements for what you want. In addition, in the particular case of Computer Science, as an object of study GNU / Linux offers the possibility of having the source code.

 

Advantage

§  Low acquisition cost and free use.

The software, as merchandise, is generally not for sale. What the user acquires, through a monetary outlay or without it, is a license regarding the uses that can be given to the programs in question. The software doesn't just cost a license purchase price. It is also difficult to maintain, operate and adjust. It is important for the user to be able to keep these costs under control; otherwise they may be prevented from achieving their goals, due to unplanned expenditures. The user who acquires free software does so without any monetary outlay or at a very low cost and offers a wide range of resources. Anyone with a computer and an Internet connection can use free software. Free software is an attractive option for most individual users because of the freedoms it guarantees without having to be burdened by price. However, in the case of companies and the Public Administration, the cost of the software is an important and sometimes determining factor in the choice of new computer systems.

§  Technological innovation.

Free software has the main objective of sharing information, working cooperatively. This is primarily the model on which humanity has innovated and advanced. The ideology of the defenders of free software is that knowledge belongs to humanity. Therefore, users have a prominent role in decisively influencing the direction in which programs evolve: voting on the errors that they want to be corrected, proposing new functionality to the program, or contributing themselves to the development of the software (at the end of the In 2004, a list of the most important innovations in software of the year 2004 was published. The free browser Fire Fox is considered the number one innovation and of the ten programs mentioned was also OpenOffice.org.).

§  Lower hardware requirements and durability of solutions.

Although it is impossible to generalize, there are documented cases that show that free software solutions have lower hardware requirements, and therefore are cheaper to implement. For example, Linux systems that act as servers can be used without the graphical interface, with the consequent reduction of necessary hardware requirements. It is also important to note that in proprietary software the author may decide at a given moment not to continue the project for a certain platform, for hardware that he considers old, or to discontinue support for a version of his software.

In free software applications, these decisions cannot be made by a company or individual but by an entire community, with different interests. Which translates into better support overall for older versions of software and minority hardware or software platforms.

These are a group of advantages that we think might be the most important, but there are many others.

 

Disadvantages

§  1. The learning curve is greater.

If we put two ladies who have never touched a computer, it will probably take them as long to learn to use proprietary software, for example from Microsoft, than free software like Gnome or KDE; But if users have used proprietary software before, it usually takes longer to learn how to use free software.

§  2. Free Antivirus Software has no warranty from the author.

§  3. Most of the hardware configuration is not intuitive.

Previous knowledge about the operation of the operating system and fundamentals of the equipment to be connected is required to achieve proper operation. However, the documentation regarding the hardware configuration is so explicit and detailed that it allows the novice user to deepen their knowledge of their hardware in a few hours and once they have that knowledge, the configuration becomes trivial.

§  4. The diversity of distributions, packaging methods, use licenses, tools with the same purpose, etc.

They can create confusion for a number of people. There are those who see this as a strength because they can be found from specialized distributions in embedded systems with many limitations of storage and peripheral devices of specialized use to distributions optimized for use in high-performance servers with several processors and large storage capacity; going through the distributions designed for use in desktop computers and among which are those designed for the neophyte user that are very easy to install and use and those designed for the advanced user with all the necessary tools to exploit free software in its full potential.

These are the disadvantages that most closely strike us. But there are some others that you might be thinking right now that we could also add to the list.

Comparison between Windows and GNU / Linux

There are many terms by which to assess the superiority of one operating system over another. Some are faster for the very model on which they are built, and others only differ in the low price at which they are marketed. Getting a criterion depends all the time on the study with which it is done, and what we need. It is good to review each element separately and define very well, not accommodating any specific one, either for convenience or any other reason.

Criteria for comparing two operating systems, in general, are:

Stability

Although there are in GNU / Linux what are known as unstable versions, it does not mean that this operating system is really unstable, but that the software that is under development are made public so that the improvements that are being introduced by any of the users.

Stability: GNU / Linux has the experience of a quarter of a century from Unix systems. As IBM puts it, “GNU / Linux is stable, functional, and offers great value. Like proprietary Unix systems and mainframes, GNU / Linux is very stable. “The GNU / Linux Open Source model ensures that bugs are detected and corrected quickly.

In Windows, the "alpha" versions are known, which are the first versions of a Windows operating system, and generally have many bugs. The fact that the code is closed prevents the first person to find a bug from being able to fix it, they can only report it. A big difference with any of the GNU / Linux distributions.

The same happens with important applications within the operating system, such as the Internet Explorer browser.

Elimination of processes: Something similar happens when we try to eliminate a process in Windows, many times the system is overloaded and does not allow us to do anything else, when an application has failed. In GNU / Linux there are several ways to kill processes, either by executing commands or in the shell.

Security

In July 2006, one of the international computer security companies detected 200,000 of the virus. And it predicted that in two more years this number would grow to 400,000. That company is McAfee. In 2005 alone, 11,000 viruses were detected for Windows, and only about 450 for GNU / Linux.

One of the difficulties of using Windows lies in its vulnerability to viruses. The way it is made makes it weak and very penetrable. In addition, the fame of the Microsoft company of cheating other companies has made it have many enemies who are dedicated to building viruses for this system. Although there are many antivirus for Windows it is never enough, the installation of these is often complicated, it makes the machine run slower and they are very expensive.

GNU / Linux, on the other hand, over 20 years only a dozen of them are known. Let's see why.

§  Traditionally, the programmers and users of systems based on Unix / BSD have considered security as a priority, so there are greater measures against viruses such as the need for authentication by the user as administrator or root to be able to install any additional program to the system. .

§  These systems are much less popular and used than Windows, which makes them less attractive to a virus or malicious software development.

It is worth noting that there are also antivirus for GNU / Linux, example: Clam AV. For all the reasons explained is that most of the servers in the world use GNU / Linux, even in Microsoft itself. Others use UNIX which is fast and secure.

Cost:

In Free Antivirus Software, it is mostly free. Money can be made by selling discs, or by giving technical support, but the software is generally free. There are many GNU / Linux companies that make software under commercial licenses, in fact the Open Source movement validates this way of doing business. Always in any case it is much cheaper than any proprietary SW.

Let's evaluate what happens on the other side in Windows the home edition costs $ 199. And the Professional edition $ 299. Many of the software that are used daily are very expensive, and are paid regardless of the operating system, is the case of: Photoshop ($ 449), Dreamweaver ($ 999), etc. At the same time each software update can cost a large% of money. For example, if a new Dreamweaver is released, and you want to use it, and you had already paid for the old one, you may need more than $ 200 to purchase the new version.

As an exception, and due to the North American blockade, no Microsoft software is paid, that is, the Windows operating system. That is why it does not cost schools, if this were a different reality it is necessary to pay for each software we use, in terms of cost it is easy to understand the difference with GNU / Linux, if this is used there is no need to pay it.