There has always been a lot of speculation as to whether one should pay for an antivirus application or use one of the many free versions available on the internet. If you go for a paid version, which one should you use? And as for the free versions, its often difficult to determine which supposedly "free" antivirus app is legitimate and which is a "rogueware" variant that actually is a virus itself! Hopefully, we can help make your decision a little bit easier and steer towards a few solid options.
First, we should clarify a MAJOR misconception about antivirus applications in general. Too many people assume that just because they have an antivirus or antispyware program from a major vendor such as Symantec/Norton or McAfee (I will withhold my opinion of both) that they are secure from virtually any attack that may come over the internet, or from a friend's flash drive, or from anywhere. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there is no antivirus application that is 100% effective. Lets look at an analogy. Many homes and businesses have monitored security systems that provide an extra level of protection. It serves as a deterrent to would-be thieves and gives peace of mind to the home or business owners. However, there are many "protected" homes and businesses with security systems in place that are broken into every day. It could be due to a fault in the security system. It could be due to human error such as a door or window left open or the the alarm not being set. It could be due to a criminal who has carefully studied his target and found certain exploits to gain easy, undetected entry.
These same principles and concepts can be applied to safe computing. An antivirus application is not a "Get Out of Jail Free" card that allows the user to download illegal files from possibly infected users over file sharing networks like Kazaa or Limewire and not risk being infected themselves. It is not a ticket to view "questionable" websites with a historically high infection rate and assume that you are immune to the normal threats associated with said sites. It is, as with the home security system, nothing more than an additional layer of protection that is meant to be coupled with good common sense and safe web browsing practices. The usual rules apply.. Don't open attachments from unknown sources, be mindful of file sharing applications, and steer clear of unsavory websites. I'll just come out and say it... Porn sites and viruses go hand in hand. File sharing services and malware are a good mix as well.
Another analogy to understand is that of an armed guard. Lets say you have hired an armed guard to watch your home and this guard patrols around your yard, front to back, back to front. Lets assume it takes this guard 15 minutes to complete one round. This too would make you feel secure. But, a careful watch of this guard reveals certain patterns of behavior and will eventually allow one to determine exactly when he will be where, when he will go on break, etc.. So, while the guard is in back, what is to stop a criminal from going through the front? Again, this same principle can be applied to antivirus programs. The program simply cannot cover the entire computer at one time. And leaving the door open by doing things we mentioned before certainly do not help your lone armed guard with the gargantuan task of protecting the mansion that is your computer.
If you're like most, at this point after reading, you're probably a bit nervous and ready to unhook your computer and throw it out the window. Its not that serious. Any good antivirus will provide a good level of protection, but I cannot stress how important it is to couple it with simple good behavior. If you have very good behavior and practice safe browsing habits, a good free antivirus recommendation is Avast Antivirus Home Edition. Take a look at the website for more information on features, as this is not technically a review. A paid version exists that adds a few extra bells and whistles, but if I were to recommend a good freebie for someone with a expiring trial version of whatever cam on their computer, this would be the one. I have to admit, it's scanning engine is a bit slow, but it seems to do a very thorough job.
If you'd like to check out some other paid options to give you even more protection, check out the Kingdom Computer Solutions Affiliate Store.
Hope this helps at least a bit..
God bless,
