With so many harmful viruses, Trojans and worms roaming the internet ready to infect your computer, it’s hard to see why you wouldn’t want to use an internet security suite to protect your computer. Antivirus software can only do good things for your computer, right? If you are a passionate online game player, you may not agree.

Gamers have often complained that their firewall and antivirus software disturb their online gameplay. Your antivirus application may incessantly plague you with warnings and alerts, especially if you are playing online. Your firewall may even request system updates, further disturbing you. An internet security suite can also use valuable processor time, drastically slowing down your game play.

Because of these drawbacks of antivirus software, up to one-fifth of the gamers surveyed in a recent study confessed to not using any antivirus protection while playing online games. There can be severe consequences for this choice, but what else can you do when your firewall ruins your gaming experience? Fortunately there is a solution to this problem – several solutions in fact. Several internet security suite applications offer a game mode, which allows you to play without disturbances while remaining completely secure.

We found that the following software apps provide an uninterrupted game mode:

• Kaspersky Internet Security 2011
• Symantec Norton Internet Security 2011
• BullGuard Internet Security 10
• Avira Premium Security Suite
• Acronis Internet Security Suite 2010

If you regularly play games, you will want to look into one of these applications or one of the many other internet security suites that also provide a game mode. We are particularly impressed that BitDefender developed a complete antivirus application, called GameSafe, that is specifically geared toward gamers.

How Does a Game Mode Solve the Conflicts of Antivirus Software?

Most gamers feel that they shouldn’t have to trade performance for protection. Now with some internet security suite applications, you can simply switch to game mode. This mode will keep the antivirus, antispyware and firewall running quietly in the background as you play in full screen. Those pesky alerts will be delayed except in dire situations, and system processes that slow gameplay, such as updates and virus scans, will be delayed until a more convenient time.

Some security suites, such as BullGuard Internet Security, allow you to make game profiles. With these profiles, your security application will recognize when you are playing your favorite games and automatically reduce system processes and annoying alerts. BullGuard even comes complete with 20 preset profiles of popular games.

If you switch to game mode during while you're playing a game, you will want to remember to revert back to full security after you are done. Fortunately many antivirus applications have a keyboard command so you can turn game mode on and off. With this quick trick, your security suite will become completely hassle free.

Now with game mode, you can get the full protection of an internet security suite while enjoying uninterrupted gameplay. You don’t have to choose anymore – welcome to the best of both worlds.

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