It is true, bad guys are out there coming up with more dangerous malware every day that could destroy your computer, steal your information and cost you a lot of money. You should also remember that antivirus software companies are out to make money and will do anything to convince you that you are at risk unless you pay for their most expensive package. Now, that is how the world works and the only way you will get the most value for your money is by evaluating your options and going for something that actually fixes your problems without hurting you financially. Before you go buying that £300 family package, here are some questions you should as yourself.
How Tech Savvy Are You?
Will you be able to put all those features you are paying for to use? Well, that is the first question you should ask yourself before you purchase an antivirus. Many people pay for huge packages because they have more ticks than the cheaper option only to realize that they can’t even locate those features, leave alone deploy them. If finding hidden features on drop-down menus and other tech-savvy stuff is not your biggest suite, then a simple scan and eliminate antivirus should be good for you. Ease of use is the most important part of antivirus software and the best you should get is an antivirus that updates and scans in the background and only involves you if there is something that really needs your hands-on involvement.
What Threats Do You Actually Face?
A home computer that only goes online to browse, download a few songs and probably watch some films and read emails doesn’t need a total/advanced security with VPN, password protector and all those extra features companies put in. You should only go for the safe payments option if you shop online on unsafe websites regularly. Your browser and OS may actually have some of the features such as password manager and safe payment so you don’t have to pay for those. The most important feature of antivirus software is its ability to detect and combat malware and once you have that, you don’t have to spend a fortune on the extras.
What Operating System Are You Using?
This is not a problem when it comes to choosing the software because most of them will allow you to use it on multiple operating systems. However, your OS may determine which features of the antivirus software will actually work for you. You don’t need a tracking option for an iPhone because it has its own security that can be tracked down to a few meters. Some antivirus software also has packages that are limited to certain operating systems so you may have a parental control that only works on windows. You have to ensure that the features in the packages will run on your device.
How Many Devices Do You Need To Protect?
You will notice that protecting more devices using one package brings down the price per device. You may not have to pay for every device in your house though because not all the devices in your house are actually at risk. If you have over five devices at home to protect, then going for the bigger package will be wise because you will save money while getting the premium package by default.
How Much Space Does The Software Need?
This is a major concern for many modern PC and phone owners because some of the antivirus software in the market takes up too much space on the device. Bitdefender, Norton and other premium protection suites now take up very little space on your device and run their services in the cloud which saves both space and time on your device. You no longer have to lose 10GB of space to antivirus software because that means you will have to shut everything else down every time that software runs.
What Are The Program’s Detection Rates?
Detecting and neutralizing the latest malware, hackers tricks, spam and other common threats is the first reason why you pay for an antivirus. You have to check the rank of your antivirus software in tackling the latest threats by checking platforms such as AV comparatives and PC World who test and rate antivirus software regularly and are actually independent bodies you can trust. You don’t have to renew your package if your brand is lagging behind at detecting and neutralizing threats.
How Much Are You Willing To Spend?
Total Security packages may look more lucrative than Internet Security and basic protection packages but you don’t necessarily have to break the bank just because you want it all. Depending on the number of devices you have and the level of security you need, you should evaluate a package that has most of the services you need. You should also evaluate options between brands because the same package may be cheaper in another brand than another.
How Fast Does The Software Work?
The same companies that independently evaluate the success rates of antivirus software against the latest threats also evaluate their performance. The software will definitely cause the speed of your device to reduce but its impact on your device should be kept to a minimum. You have to check how slow your device will be when you install that software and only pay for one that is best optimized to keep your device running.
How Many Services Are There In The Package?
Antivirus software are no longer just brands, you have to evaluate each brand and compare them package by package. Most companies have four main categories namely basic, internet security, total security and family package. You should go around each brand and check the number of extra features included in each package and buy one that offers the most value for your money.
Beware Of Free Antivirus
Many people have fallen for the trick of free antivirus that allegedly scans and neutralizes threats and you don’t have to pay anything for them. Don’t be fooled because all these companies work for money and if they won’t get it from your credit card, they will sell your information to get it. Free antivirus is often worse than not having any at all because you now face an extra threat.