How to Choose an ISP: Anti Virus Protection

The last thing you need on your computer is a virus. Yet when you open your computer up to the internet, you’re exposing yourself to everything out there unless you have protection. The protection can cost a good chunk of change and require your own attention to run it. So why not let your ISP take care of it? After all, the ISP is still the best first line of defense when filtering spam or viruses.

Protection from Your ISP

First of all, the ISP can protect its customers from all outside influences from one place. ISPs are better able to track incoming viruses, and are more knowledgeable about current and upcoming software than the average computer user. Part of the reason for this is all the unprotected computers out there. Those are like your lungs during flu season—prime real estate for breeding. When these viruses find their ways out of those computers and start spreading, there needs to be a strong front line—who better than an ISP?

Different Alternatives Offered by ISPs Today

ISPs today are offering more in the way of protection. They provide firewalls, virus filtering, email filters, spam filters, spyware blockers, and popup blockers. Some have even begun offering these for free with their monthly fees, although some still charge small amounts for them. It’s more important than ever to make sure your ISP has you covered, even if you pay a little more.

The Problems with Low Cost ISPs

Those of you with cheap or free ISP service, however, may not be getting any protection at all. Many of the sites offer virus protection for paying customers, and provide little or nothing for the lower level customers. Even if you have to pay a little more every month, it would be worth protecting your expensive equipment and important personal information. If you must use a cheap of free service, make sure you have desktop virus protection at the very least.

You Still Have Responsibilities

Remember that ISP virus protection doesn’t remove responsibility from your shoulders for protecting your equipment as well. Although your ISP can protect you from their important position in your connection to the internet, you should also be running antivirus software on your computer. Keep a current copy running that will serve as a final line of defense against malicious viruses and hackers.

This is especially important if you have DSL. Your system is always on, and anti virus protection should be running even while you sleep because your computer—and the connection—doesn’t.

Summary

In the end, you need to give careful consideration to issues relating to anti-virus. This needs to be a paramount consideration when it comes to seeking an ISP that will satisfy all of your needs -- today and into the future as well.