One of the most important things for new computer and internet users to understand is the immediate need for a good antivirus program to keep the computer free from viruses. If you plan to download anything at all from the internet, you should be sure you have a solid security system in place, and especially if you plan to download any free stuff. However, there are so many different antivirus programs from which to choose that you could easily get overwhelmed. It is important, though, that your system be protected.

Many security software companies allow users to run a free virus scan to determine the presence of any viruses or malware on the user's computer. Free virus scans allow you to detect and isolate viruses without purchasing software, and many people prefer to run an online virus scan in place of installing and running antivirus scanner software.

However, if you are in the habit of downloading free stuff from the internet, you need to be sure your free virus scan is reputable and will do as good a job detecting viruses and spyware. If the antivirus program you run does not include a free virus scan, there are several online sites that can provide links to downloadable free virus scans or other online virus scans.

There are many reasons some people prefer to run online virus scans, such as:

1. The lack of program installation. With an online virus scan, you can just connect to the internet whenever you want to run an online virus scan and clean your computer.
2. Most online virus scan programs are updated regularly by the company, so the online virus scan is always current and the user doesn't have to manually download any updates.
3. The lure of free stuff, including a free virus scan is always attractive to some people, and many free virus scan programs will also work as a cleaner and remove any viruses they find.

You should keep in mind, though, that an online virus scan may, in some cases, require the download of an agent program to run the actual scan, so there may still be some download requirements, regardless of whether the scan is run online.

Although it's always good to use caution when searching for free stuff on the internet, there are several good online virus scans, even free virus scans, available for download or use online. But for maximum protection, an offline antivirus software package that contains a virus scanner will work more efficiently and regularly to protect your system than a free virus scan will. For those particularly interested in downloading free stuff, which is one of the most common ways of infecting your computer, a solid defense against viruses and spyware is a must.