A computer virus is basically an executable code delivered to your computer that has the ability to replicate itself. In the past, this was done primarily with floppy disks. Now, with the advent and popularity of the internet, 87% of computer viruses are delivered via email.

Since email has become such an important part of doing business online, viruses today can spread faster than ever. No one is immune to computer viruses and spyware.

There have been some 10,000 computer viruses identified and hundreds more are created every month. In a survey by the Computer Security Institute, 85% of respondents detected some form of security breach within the preceding 12 months. This translated into $377,828,700 in losses.

It is estimated that the average PC is checked for its presence or weakness 17 times a day. One in four computers will be hacked into this year. And one in 20 adults in the U.S. are the victims of identity theft.

The best thing to do to avoid damage is to protect yourself. There are many antivirus products out there. Most PC's come with Norton Anti-virus protection already loaded. McAfee also seems to be used quite a lot.

These programs run full time in the background and check all files and diskettes the moment they are accessed. The main drawback of these types of programs is keeping up with subscription renewals and paying for updates. Sometimes the support is not very good as well.

One thing to remember about PC and internet security, however, is that it is not a one-time event. You should not just install a cheap program or use what was given to you on your computer and sit back and relax. True internet security requires a fairly high level of expertise and is an ongoing process.

One of the best solutions is to find a computer security program that gives you personalized support and on-going upgrades and updates. Then, if you do encounter a security problem, an expert will be there to help you fix it.

This is how large companies like Google and NASA protect themselves online. They do not rely on an off the shelf anti-virus software program to protect them and neither should you.

So, do some research and see what kind of anti-virus protection is available to you. Do not sit back and wait until you are attacked. There are better solutions out there than what you probably currently use.

Whether you just have a home PC or a small business, you should look for comprehensive protection against all threats.