Let’s be clear right from the start, if you don’t want to pay for it, you’re probably not going to get the very best virus protection around.
But you know, we don’t all need the best virus protection. For example, Mac users. OSX is very resistant to infection. You could also simply be very careful about possible sources for viruses. We don’t all need top of the line, bullet proof defense against viruses. Some of us do half the job just fine ourselves.
We all need some degree of virus protection, but for many of us, free virus protection is more than enough.
So the answer is, yes some of these programs are pretty great, but it depends on who you are. Let’s consider the criteria for what makes a good virus defense program.
First of all, it needs to work. This does apply to many of the free virus filters out there. One of the most impressive virus filters out there in this regard is actually free. Avira AntiVir. Many free virus protectors get about one update a week, if they’re lucky. The better ones get one per day, as do most paid virus protection programs. Avira gets at least one update every single day, and sometimes more.
This allows Avira to have you pretty darn well covered. If a virus maker puts out his new virus in the morning, Avira will probably have it taken care of by the afternoon.
Avira is also pretty easy to use, that’s the second criteria for virus protection.
But you know, it won’t give you the full protection you get with a program like McAfee Security Center. Of course, there’s always a chance that you simply don’t need that much protection. McAfee works as an impenetrable wall against popups, spam, worms, Trojans, and so on. But… what if you’re pretty savvy about all that stuff and you simply know how to keep your email address out of the hands of spammers?
So basically, if you’re a savvy computer user, if you know how to avoid obvious infection sources on your own, the free programs probably are just what you need.
What it kind of boils down to is that… if you use a free virus program, you’ll be covered as long as you practice common sense along with it. When you have to pay around fifty bucks for a full security program, you’re basically paying for the license to be a little careless. So to sum it all up, be careful, and you won’t have to pay too much for great, perfect virus protection.
