• Is That Website Safe to Visit?

There are some websites that could infect your computer with a virus just by visiting the site. Most of the time, your antivirus software or your search engine will warn you of the problem before you visit the site.

If you should be asked to click on a website, you shouldn't do it unless you know who sent you the.

For example, I add many links to our pcAmerica Newsletter. You can trust that pcAmerica would not intentionally send you to a virus infected link. Likewise, if a friend sends you an email with a link, the link is probably not infected.

However, if you should get an email from an unknown source, you are more likely to be getting a link that could be infected.

You don't need to be too paranoid by links sent to you by friends, pcAmerica, or a known company that you work with. Your computer will prevent most infected sites from harming your computer. You should be paranoid about receiving links from unknown senders.

To check out a link, go to McAfee's Site Advisor at http://www.siteadvisor.com/.

On the right side of this page is a box that let's you insert a site address and receive a safety report related to the site. For example, if you insert pcamerica.com, you get a green light indicating that this is a safe site. Should you search for the site called purplejjjhoodie.com, you will get a red light indicating that the site is unsafe to visit. By the way, the site name does not actually contain the "jjj". I added that to the name because many spam filters will prevent you from receiving this email if it contains an infected site. So, when you try site advisor, insert the same site address without the "jjj" and you will see the McAfee report indicating that this site is unsafe to visit.

Likewise, if you are using Norton Internet Security 2010 and other similar security programs, and search for the website using Google or other search engines, you will see a Green Check next to those sites that are safe and a red "X" next to those sites that are unsafe.

The McAfee Site Advisor adds another checking mechanism. I frequently use the McAfee Site Advisor to check out links that I get within emails that I believe need further investigation. I receive oodles of stock recommendation tips and newsletters. Many appear on that "X" list.

Everyone needs Cash Register Express and Restaurant Pro Express. I'm going to leave these off my list since most of you are already using our software. The list of 10 Computer Programs You Really Need contains computer software programs that small businesses, students, and casual users should have on their computers.

#1 is the program you have heard about before.

Norton Internet Security 2010 or equivalent should be installed on every computer you own.

Every computer needs some type of internet security system. That security system includes antivirus software, antispyware software and firewall software. The antivirus component prevents outsiders from maliciously destroying your computer. Antispyware prevents outsiders from popping up unwanted ads on your computer. Firewalls prevent outsiders from stealing your data. You need it.

Norton (form Symantec Corporation) offers what I believe to be the best and most effective internet security software. It's also considered to be the best by those experts that review security packages (PC Magazine, Pc World, and AV-Comparatives).

You can read the PC Magazine review  (PC Magazine Editor's Choice) at:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2349865,00.asp

You can read PC World's review at:

http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/product/324720/review/norton_antivirus_2010.html

You can read the AV-Comparatives review at:

http://www.av-comparatives.org/

Norton Antivirus has been around for a long time. It is the leader in antivirus software. It hasn't always been the best. Many owners of earlier versions of Norton Internet Security (NIS) hated the product because it was rather flakey and took up lots of resources on user computers. I did not endorse NIS until 2008. The 2009 version really excelled. The 2010 version is even better. If you hear bad reviews from other computer gurus, they are probably still angry about the older prior to 2008 versions of NIS.

So...if you believe the reviews, Norton Internet Security 2010 is the one to buy. If you prefer another product, go for it. Just make sure that you use some form of internet security on your computer.

Norton Internet Security 2010 sells for $69.95 (that's for a 1 year subscription good on 3 computers). You can purchase it at a discount at the link below ($39.93):

http://www.buy.com/prod/norton-internet-security-2010-3-pcs-1-year-protection/q/loc/105/211970497.html

Many of our readers like AVG. This is a very popular and FREE program available from AVG technologies.

#1...It's not really FREE. Although you can download it and install it on any business computer, you are breaking the license agreement which forbids you from using the FREE version within a business. However, you may use it in your home for FREE.

#2...According to the AV-Comparative tests, it is only 88% as effective as the competition. That 88% figure is only an estimate and admittedly may not be accurate for comparative purposes. However, according to AV-Comparatives, Norton Internet Security offers superior performance.

Read the reviews at:

http://blogs.pcmag.com/securitywatch/2009/12/av-comparativesorg_torture-tes.php

In short, in my opinion, Norton Internet Security 2010 is the 1st product that you should be installing on your computer. See #2 next week.

To purchase Norton Internet Security, go to:

or click the Norton Internet Security box above or the icon below.