How to protect your laptop – and yourself – with antivirus software

If you've ever had a computer infected with malware, you know how much of a pain it can be when everything slows down, popups invade your screen, and your once trusty laptop becomes virtually unusable.

These days, there are even more things you need to be wary about online, including scams and identify theft. The easiest way to combat computer viruses and safeguard your laptop or other devices is prevention, and antivirus and anti-malware software can offer you peace of mind.

What does antivirus software do?

Every software suite is a little different in what they offer, but at a base level installing an antivirus service will combat viruses and prevent them from installing on your laptop.

What that means is that if you visit a dodgy website that tries to install malware (which can hide itself and disrupt your computer in numerous ways), the software blocks the install. If any has already snuck in, your antivirus can remove them.

If anything suspicious is happening on your computer, it will let you know. If a website, link, or download is dangerous, it will warn you (your browser can also identify certain malicious sites). You can see what is being blocked and learn where these viruses came from.

Some antivirus software can also help to identify scam emails and text messages, including attempts at identity theft, and many antivirus services provide you with a VPN (Virtual Private Network) for secure internet use.

A VPN masks your IP address so that your laptop can't be traced, and if you use your laptop regularly in public spaces this will protect it against anyone trying to remotely hack into your system – which can actually happen!

Extras like private browsers, password managers, parental settings, and social media monitoring can be included with different services, so it's important to match antivirus software to your needs.

Why do you need it?

Antivirus software might not feel like something you need until you're impacted by a computer virus, but it's best to implement it before that happens.

Windows PCs, in particular, are vulnerable to malware, and while the free Windows Defender antivirus can prevent some viruses from taking hold, it lacks many of the features and support that the paid services offer, including protection against scams.

Scams have become more sophisticated in recent years. In 2023, Australians reported over 601,000 scams, so antivirus with scam protection can be an excellent way of identifying if the email you've just received – which may look legitimate – is actually dodgy.

If you don't feel you need it yourself, consider any older family members – are they likely to open email attachments or visit websites you'd know to avoid?

Don’t lose an afternoon or weekend on hold to tech support. Many antivirus subscriptions also grant the user access to 24/7 support, which is great for peace of mind – there's no need to wait until morning to deal with any problems that may suddenly arise.

Is it easy to install?

Antivirus software is now available as a digital download, so you no longer need a disc drive to install it.

When you pick your service you can often also choose how many devices you want the software to cover, and how long you want an active subscription – you can cover your laptop, phone, and tablet in one subscription. Always check the terms of service first.

Installing the software will involve going to the site specified by the provider, creating an account, agreeing to terms and conditions, and then following the app install instructions. It's no more complicated than installing Spotify, or any other piece of software that requires an account.