If you access the Internet, you definitely need anti-virus software. It does not matter whether you do not use a computer. Whatever you use to get on line you need anti-virus software. Although there are hundreds of malicious idiots producing viruses to harass those who access the Internet from a computer, there is an increasing number who are targeting mobile phone users too.

It is harder to clear viruses from your cell phone too, because there are less vendors for the anti-virus software and cell phone users are normally less technically savvy than computer users, although the method of clearing the virus is quite similar.

Let's just use the example of using computers to go on line. If you go on line, your ant-virus software is your most essential piece of software. It does not matter what you use the Internet for - transferring data back to base or receiving emails from friends - you are subject to attack.

For instance, if you use the Internet only to connect with your head office, a hacker could try to piggy-back your link to gain admittance to the mainframe at head office and perhaps access financial or other personal data and if you just send to and receive emails from your friends and family, you are open to attack from malevolent fools around the world.

If you use webmail such as that offered by Yahoo, Hotmail and MSN to name only the most popular, you will be protected from the most obvious attacks, but still not safe. If you receive your email through an email client such as Outlook or Outlook Express, then you do not even have that small amount of security.

If you do not use email, but only surf the Internet for research or whatever, you are still not safe, because some websites and loaded with viruses, trojans and worms, waiting to unload them onto unwary visitors.

Therefore, whatever reason you surf the Internet for, you could do with some type of security. Luckily, anti-virus software for personal use is low-cost and may even be free. Commercial users will normally get tax relief on their purchases.

However, be careful with the free anti-virus software, because not all of it is effective enough. The exceptions that spring readily to mind are Avira and AVG. These are excellent products and have rightly achieved worldwide praise. Just Google the two names to get the download address.

The anti-virus software that costs something (typically $25-$50 per annum) customarily offer one to two months free examination before you buy and a reduction in price, if you pay for more than one year at a time. Names that fall into this category are Kaspersky, McAfee, Norton and Nod.

Once you have selected your software, the subsequent steps are the same for free and paid software. First install it and then configure it. If you are not certain how to do that do not worry, the default settings are fine for the overwhelming majority of users. The only choice you will get that it is vital you make correctly is to consent to automatic updates.

New viruses are being exposed or fixed every day and for your anti-virus software to be effective, you must allow it to update itself whenever it wishes to.