Whether you have purchased your computer for business or personal pursuits, the security of the computer must be effectively maintained at all costs. Unfortunately, there are elements out there that seek to undermine the security of your computer. That is why it is necessary to make sure the computer is effectively protected. This is where antivirus software and antivirus firewall software come into play. These programs are absolute musts for anyone looking to make sure a computer is properly and effectively protected. Some may be new to computers and are not completely familiar with what these antivirus software and antivirus firewall software programs do. They may even already have the programs installed on their computer and are unsure how to operate them or, for that matter, might not even know why the programs need to be run. So, for those that may have such concerns, here is a brief overview of what these programs are along with their intended purpose. Best free antivirus Best antivirus Free mac antivirus Best antivirus software for android Antivirus Software: Antivirus programs can the items that can thoroughly clean out the computer's hard drive of any number of malicious programs that might find their way into it. These malicious programs can include spyware that is designed to keep track of your internet browsing habits as well of malicious Trojans designed to wreak havoc on the computer's files. Clearly, the presence of such maladies on the computer is not helpful and this is why an antivirus software program needs to be run. The antivirus software will scan a computer's hard drive, locate the dangerous files or viruses, and then remove them. This will allow a computer to return to its normal operational condition which, in turn, will prevent freezes, crashes, and other problems. Antivirus Firewall Software: No one likes unauthorized intrusions into a computer and this is where antivirus firewall software comes into play. As the name infers, a firewall is an invisible wall between your computer and any remote computer that seeks to access it. (Actually, such a program is a combination of a firewall system and a traditional antivirus program. The software performs both tasks) It is this program that effectively prevents intrusions or, at the very least, reduces them to a significant degree. Whether it is spyware promoters or devious hackers, a firewall will let you know when an intrusion is occurring. It will also stop an intrusion dead in its tracks. Antivirus firewall software is not complicated to operate as the firewall operates in a completely automatic manner.You simply need to make sure it is turned on and it will handle any problems that come its way. Of course, the more reliable a software program you purchase, the greater the odds it will work. Ultimately, if you want to keep your computer safe, you will need to install a reliable and high quality antivirus software and/or antivirus firewall software program. The presence of these programs will certainly prove helpful in terms of their ability to prevent serious problems from occurring with the computer.