Either you are using a Mac or a Windows PC, a phone or a tablet, there is one thing for sure that the internet these days is pretty terrifying. There are a lot of hackers out there who are searching for one fine opportunity to butt in and thieve your private data or any information, turn your device into a slave on a botnet, or they can even encrypt your drive and hold it for ransom. According to a report by cybersecurity firm SonicWall, in the first half of 2020 alone, internet users worldwide suffered a massive 2.3 trillion intrusion attempts. And that is a whopping 19% jump from the same period the previous year.
Keeping all these reasons in mind, it is very crucial to make sure that all your internet-connected devices are protected by antivirus software.
With dozens of antivirus software in the market, including Norton, TotalAV, BullGuard, and many more, you can easily get confused as to which one to buy. Therefore, here we have listed five main things to consider before buying any Antivirus Software, as there’s no simple one-size-fits-all answer.
ALSO READ: HOW TO KEEP YOUR MAC FROM OVERHEATING
1. Do You Want Cloud Antivirus?
Cloud antivirus programs do the majority of their procedures on the internet itself rather than your computer’s hard drive, which is unlike conventional antivirus software. Not only do the Cloud antivirus programs have a tinnier resource footprint, but also they can be faster to retaliate to newly rising malware threats and don’t necessarily have to depend on manual or scheduled downloads of malware signatures to safeguard your machines. You can go ahead and use TotalAV cloud antivirus that offers all the above features.
2. What Are You Protecting?
One evident cue is that you will need a program that’s consistent and compatible with your device’s operating system. Considering many antivirus software makers already offer their products for multiple platforms, it isn’t as much of an issue as it once was. Another thing that has to be kept in mind is how much storage and memory space your device has, since some of the antivirus software may hog resources. We’ll suggest you use Webroot SecureAnywhere Antivirus if you want software that uses resources lightly.
3. What’s Your Price Point?
If you have a strict budget and aren’t like a donkey worker on your computer, then you may get away with one of the free antivirus programs that we suggest. If you’ve got a Windows PC, use the most economical and modest to activate Windows Defender Antivirus, the protecting app that comes along with Windows 10 operating system. An additional option is the highly-rated Avast Free Antivirus which is available for is available for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices. There’s always plenty of features available in the paid versions of the free programs, just how Bitdefender Total Security offers much greater elaborate defenses, like protection for webcams and microphones and file shredding.
4. How Much Protection Do You Need?
If you’re mostly just using your computer for emails and watch movies OTT platforms or other websites here and there, then buying a full-featured security suite probably would go in vain. If you are running a home e-commerce business or roaming the web more comprehensively, then only you’ll find the premium version well worth the money. For an instance, the GDTA antivirus keeps in mind that the program incorporates technology specifically designed to obstruct “drive-by infections ” from viscous code planted on websites which is a huge risk these days. A program called 360 with LifeLock Select embraces a host of anti-hacking features like a specifically designed shield for children doing remote learning—with cloud file backup, a virtual private network, and numerous features designed to protect your identity and private data.
ALSO READ: WHAT IS A VIRTUAL PRIVATE NETWORK (VPN), HOW DOES IT WORK, AND WHY DO YOU NEED ONE?
5. How Tech Savvy Are You?
If you are someone who finds the technological word overpowering, then you’ll be the most comfortable by going easy. Trend Micro Antivirus + Security is well known for its user-friendly dashboard controls.
According to online security expert Bruce Schneier, “The security improvement that comes from having vs not having one is much greater than the difference between them,”
ALSO READ: 6 BEST VPN APPLICATION WORTH TRYING IN 2021
