Anti-Virus: Why Pay?
This blog entry was posted on: 03 January 2010
A large number of people still pay for their anti-virus solution, despite the numerous free alternatives available. Of course, in some circumstances a commercial anti-virus package is a necessity. This could be due to licencing laws or a requirement for some other advanced features. However, for the average home user, a freeware alternative is the best bet.
The reason being is that they can be just as reliable as their commercial counterparts. (In fact, in the past, freeware antivirus programs have been known to detect threats that paid solutions failed to recognise). Secondly, even if you have been offered a “free for a year” deal when you purchased a new computer, you’ll still need to dip into your wallet in subsequent years. In addition, some commercial anti-virus solutions are notorious to uninstall and can require specialist tools to remove from your system. If you suddenly decide to switch software vendors, it could prove quite a headache. And let’s not forget, with freeware downloads, there’s no price tag.
It is very easy to purchase anti-virus software when in large electrical stores, since salespeople regularly recommend some of the popular ones, including Norton, Kaspersky and McAfee. All these are more than capable and will keep you safe and secure, but they do come at a cost. If you are currently running a commercial variant, or if you have just purchased a new PC and need some protection, visit our Free Anti-Virus Software section for a list of suitable freeware downloads.