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Protect your computer with security software
Several types of security software are necessary for basic online security.
Security software essentials include firewall and antivirus programs. A
firewall is usually your computer's first line of defense-it controls who and
what can communicate with your computer online. You could think of a
firewall as a sort of "policeman" that watches all the data attempting to
flow in and out of your computer on the Internet, allowing communications
that it knows are safe and blocking "bad" traffic such as attacks from ever
reaching your computer.
The next line of defense many times is your antivirus software, which
monitors all online activities such as email messages and Web browsing
and protects an individual from viruses, worms, Trojan horse and other
types of malicious programs. Your antivirus and antispyware software
should be configured to update itself, and it should do so every time you
connect to the Internet.
Integrated security suites such as Norton Internet Security, which combine
firewall, antivirus, antispyware with other features such as antispam and
parental controls, have become popular as they offer all the security
software needed for online protection in a single package. Many people
find using a comprehensive security suite an attractive alternative to
installing, configuring and updating several different types of security
software.
A complete version of Norton Internet Security™ is pre-installed on your
Gateway system. It includes a free trial subscription to protection updates.
Make sure you Activate it!