If you don’t have security software on any of your devices yet, it’s time to get one. Online threats are increasingly becoming more common as the years go by, and as seen during the 2016 US presidential elections: infiltrate and damage a political campaign. We are a society that is increasingly becoming dependent on the internet for almost everything in our lives. And if we plan on making that the case for years to come, we must take security precautions and that includes installing antivirus software in our devices.
There are many varieties of free and paid applications which makes choosing the right one quite the daunting task. To help you out, here are some of the best paid and non-paid versions that are well worth the install:
BitDefender AntiVirus Plus 2017
Bitdefender’s engine is one of the best on the planet, and it’s pretty accurate too. However, its detection system is prone to error and can flag a perfectly legitimate site as dangerous.
Avast Free Antivirus
Avast has increased its database thanks to merging with AVG in 2016. This means it can better defend users from attacks but its pop-up interface remains a frustration.
F-Secure Antivirus 2017
Antivirus packages tend to be heavy which is where F-Secure can be of service: it’s light, fast, and pretty good at detecting problems. But just like BitDefender, it’s prone to false positives.
Sophos
This antivirus looks aimed at those with families with browser controls such as parental controls and anti-phishing. It does pretty well with virus protection and it can service up to 10 computers.
Kaspersky Antivirus 2017
Kaspersky has, for years, been one of the best antivirus packages in the world. It has a good track record of not only blocking malware but also removing it from a system that has been infected. Of course, the good features come at a price: this is quite the expensive software.
Avira Free Antivirus
Avira protects against viruses really well and it also comes with phishing protection. It’s available for free and that comes with a drawback: it is overly enthusiastic with its pop-ups.
AVG Antivirus Free
Although merged with Avast, the company will still release their own antivirus package and this one is quite good. It protects against viruses really well and it also comes with a malware scanner and phishing protection.
Norton Security Standard
When speaking of a comprehensive package, Norton is definitely on that list. The application combines antivirus protection, browsing protection, a firewall, and a password manager, among others.
Antivirus software should be one of the first applications you install on your computer or device. Online threats are increasing and it’s best to stay protected. The choice of opting for a free option like AVG or a paid version like BitDefender is totally up to you. Keep in mind that just because a piece of software is made available for free doesn’t mean it skimps on services. That said, you do get a wider range of services if you opt for the paid variety.