What to look when buying Antivirus Software
1.Free or paid?
Cost is a very important part of the decision making process. It goes without saying – price is one the top things to consider when purchasing antivirus software. You will come across all kinds of versions and features priced across a broad scale. While free always sounds great, there is no such thing as a free lunch. Most free antivirus software delivers only the most basic level of protection. Some software is free, while others cost hundreds of dollars. Paid antivirus software is a recurring expense. Most paid antivirus programs provide updates only for one year, so be prepared to pay annual renewal fees. You want to go with something reasonable; it is not necessary to buy the most expensive program to keep your computer secure.
Nowadays nearly every antivirus company is offering the free trial so before buying any anti-virus just download their trial version once you feel it provides good security without degrading system performance you can go for paid version.
Most people tend to choose less expensive products, and while this is a good general approach, it’s not always the best. In the case of security products, that means that you should look for the lowest priced product that fits your needs and offers the protection you need.
You may have to upgrade to the paid version to get comprehensive protection. Sometimes free software is riddled with adware and other software. Sometimes it is free because it collects your information and sells it to third-party groups.
2.Speed vs performance
Although antivirus software is perceived to be heavy intrusive software that slows down a device, recent advancements have resolved many speed and performance issues. Hardware configuration of your computer and resource usage is also a deciding factor when you choose antivirus software. If your PC is old having less amount of Memory (RAM less than 2 GB), then you need such antivirus which runs on less resource.
So make sure your antivirus software does a thorough job and doesn’t compromise anything for the sake of speed. All it takes is one overlooked malware to bring down your whole system. First, check your system configuration and match it to the compatibility of antivirus, choosing a wrong antivirus can slow down your computer performance.
3.Compatibility with all versions of every device you own.
One of the most important things to consider when purchasing an antivirus software is the compatibility with your computer. There are plenty of devices in your home, purchased at different times. Always buy antivirus software that protects all the versions of every device you own. Windows users often have to pay special attention to the exact operating system, as there are many versions of antivirus programs out there. Check the system requirements. Make sure the antivirus program you choose will work with your Windows or Mac operating system. If you have an older computer, a large antivirus software program can consume a huge percentage of your computing power and you may run into compatibility problems.
Also avoid conflicts. Antivirus software rarely plays nicely with similar products from different vendors. Before installing software from another company, completely uninstall any pre-existing security software. If your PC is old having less amount of Memory (RAM less than 2 GB), then you need such antivirus which runs on less resource.
Otherwise, you risk wasting money on something that cannot properly scan and protect your computer.
4.Customer service and support
Before you put your trust in your antivirus software, make sure the company has a reputation for dealing with the changing threat landscape and for rapidly developing solutions to combat emerging threats. Although some antivirus programs come with free telephone support, it is rare to find this feature with free software. Even online or chat support isn't guaranteed with free products. Better still, pick a customer-centric company that responsively updates and informs customers about any critical safety issues, offers 24 x 7 customer support, and includes a 100% money back guarantee. Support option is a major feature to look when buying anti-virus, if something goes wrong at any point of time you can get support most of the antivirus companies provides support option. Nothing in this world is perfect, so being able to call for help when something doesn’t work as it should, is very important.
5.Overall protection from threats
The better antivirus programs can monitor web-based email traffic such as Hotmail or Yahoo! Mail to detect and block malware in file attachments. Good antivirus software will not only protect you from well-known viruses and malware, it will also detect other lesser-known threats including harmful downloads, threats embedded in USB drives, and viruses and malware hidden inside email and messages. Another feature that makes this list of the most important things to consider is download protection. Files can contain all types of dangerous elements, so you may want to choose an antivirus software program that offers file download scanning. Some antivirus software will monitor instant messaging traffic to detect and block malicious threats.
1.Free or paid?
Cost is a very important part of the decision making process. It goes without saying – price is one the top things to consider when purchasing antivirus software. You will come across all kinds of versions and features priced across a broad scale. While free always sounds great, there is no such thing as a free lunch. Most free antivirus software delivers only the most basic level of protection. Some software is free, while others cost hundreds of dollars. Paid antivirus software is a recurring expense. Most paid antivirus programs provide updates only for one year, so be prepared to pay annual renewal fees. You want to go with something reasonable; it is not necessary to buy the most expensive program to keep your computer secure.
Nowadays nearly every antivirus company is offering the free trial so before buying any anti-virus just download their trial version once you feel it provides good security without degrading system performance you can go for paid version.
Most people tend to choose less expensive products, and while this is a good general approach, it’s not always the best. In the case of security products, that means that you should look for the lowest priced product that fits your needs and offers the protection you need.
You may have to upgrade to the paid version to get comprehensive protection. Sometimes free software is riddled with adware and other software. Sometimes it is free because it collects your information and sells it to third-party groups.
2.Speed vs performance
Although antivirus software is perceived to be heavy intrusive software that slows down a device, recent advancements have resolved many speed and performance issues. Hardware configuration of your computer and resource usage is also a deciding factor when you choose antivirus software. If your PC is old having less amount of Memory (RAM less than 2 GB), then you need such antivirus which runs on less resource.
So make sure your antivirus software does a thorough job and doesn’t compromise anything for the sake of speed. All it takes is one overlooked malware to bring down your whole system. First, check your system configuration and match it to the compatibility of antivirus, choosing a wrong antivirus can slow down your computer performance.
3.Compatibility with all versions of every device you own.
One of the most important things to consider when purchasing an antivirus software is the compatibility with your computer. There are plenty of devices in your home, purchased at different times. Always buy antivirus software that protects all the versions of every device you own. Windows users often have to pay special attention to the exact operating system, as there are many versions of antivirus programs out there. Check the system requirements. Make sure the antivirus program you choose will work with your Windows or Mac operating system. If you have an older computer, a large antivirus software program can consume a huge percentage of your computing power and you may run into compatibility problems.
Also avoid conflicts. Antivirus software rarely plays nicely with similar products from different vendors. Before installing software from another company, completely uninstall any pre-existing security software. If your PC is old having less amount of Memory (RAM less than 2 GB), then you need such antivirus which runs on less resource.
Otherwise, you risk wasting money on something that cannot properly scan and protect your computer.
4.Customer service and support
Before you put your trust in your antivirus software, make sure the company has a reputation for dealing with the changing threat landscape and for rapidly developing solutions to combat emerging threats. Although some antivirus programs come with free telephone support, it is rare to find this feature with free software. Even online or chat support isn't guaranteed with free products. Better still, pick a customer-centric company that responsively updates and informs customers about any critical safety issues, offers 24 x 7 customer support, and includes a 100% money back guarantee. Support option is a major feature to look when buying anti-virus, if something goes wrong at any point of time you can get support most of the antivirus companies provides support option. Nothing in this world is perfect, so being able to call for help when something doesn’t work as it should, is very important.
5.Overall protection from threats
The better antivirus programs can monitor web-based email traffic such as Hotmail or Yahoo! Mail to detect and block malware in file attachments. Good antivirus software will not only protect you from well-known viruses and malware, it will also detect other lesser-known threats including harmful downloads, threats embedded in USB drives, and viruses and malware hidden inside email and messages. Another feature that makes this list of the most important things to consider is download protection. Files can contain all types of dangerous elements, so you may want to choose an antivirus software program that offers file download scanning. Some antivirus software will monitor instant messaging traffic to detect and block malicious threats.
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