From alertpay blog
Imagine booting up your computer and having to spend an inordinate amount of time gazing into the screen, waiting patiently for the thing to finally take you to your desktop. Or pulling out your hair in frustration due to yet another crash. Chances are you may have a virus on your computer. Bummer.

Antivirus software programs are essential for your online security and if you don’t have one, you run the risk of experiencing really annoying and sometimes serious drama. Antiviruses quarantine and destroy viruses capable of wreaking havoc on your computer system, personal information and life in general.

Getting a computer virus really sucks and you don’t want one. Here are a few highly contagious types of viruses your computer can contract:

- Trojan horses: This virus’ namesake is from Homer’s Iliad, and if you know the story this virus should be fairly easy to imagine. In the digital world, a Trojan Horse appears as a computer file or program. If you open it, you’re going to let everyone or thing hiding in that horse into your computer and you will not know it until it’s too late. To be safe, don’t open any programs or files you cannot verify; make sure you know the author. Just don’t open the door. The horse may look harmless and even quite appealing, but it’s hiding something sinister within it…. Just lock the door, get a good antivirus program and walk away.

- Worms: Worms are prolific viruses that wiggle their way through holes and flaws primarily in multi-user systems. They are not moderate creatures — they go forth and multiply without restraint and can do A LOT of damage to your system. One of the best ways to prevent worms from burrowing into your life is to get a good antivirus program and keep your browser and operating system up-to-date at all times. This will ensure that security bugs are patched up.

- Email viruses: These viruses spread through email and can send themselves to thousands of people — through your email account. A good way to prevent email viruses from infiltrating your computer system is to — say it together now — get a good antivirus and refrain from opening emails from people you do not know. Even if you know them, pay attention to the subject. If it’s unlikely that your Uncle Oswald is sending you advertisements for hair growth hormones or some other weird product, it may be a virus.

Since we at AlertPay like to be a part of the solution rather than the harbingers of doom and gloom, we did some homework and found a comprehensive list of trustworthy antivirus programs, brought to you by Mashable.com. You can read it HERE!