Is it really necessary to pay for antivirus software nowadays?
Having security software, and installing a good antivirus program, is important to avoid malware of all kinds. There are many options for both computers and mobile devices. There are both free and paid. Now, is it necessary to pay for antivirus software these days? Will it really increase security more than free? We will talk about it with you in this article.
The goal is to always keep your equipment well protected and choose a product that actually does that. We can say that you can find both free and paid antivirus programs that work. So, you don’t really need to spend money today and we will explain why.
- Why is free antivirus software good?
Be careful, just because a free antivirus can protect your computer just as well as a paid one, doesn’t mean that any of them are any good. Neither is the case with those that cost money. You should always carefully review the features of such a program and look for reviews and ratings from third parties, so that you can use one that is guaranteed.
- Many devices already come with antivirus software.
The first reason is that many devices already come with their own built-in antivirus software. We are talking about mobile phones, for example, but also computers. They usually come with their own security tools that help detect threats and trigger alerts to reduce the risk of problems of this kind.
So, as long as the security software that comes with it is already good, you don’t really need to pay for additional software. You don’t need to spend money. And that can be a problem, since installing more than one antivirus program can slow down your computer or generate false positives.
- Free options that top the world rankings
It’s also worth noting that some free options top the lists of the best antivirus programs when we conduct independent tests. A clear example is Microsoft Defender. It’s one of the best antivirus programs out there and you don’t have to pay anything to use it, as it comes with Windows.
This shows us that paying, at least when it comes to antivirus software, doesn’t mean it’s better. You can find some very good options without having to pay anything to install them. Of course, make sure you’re installing a program that’s really reliable and will work well.
Prevention is more important than antivirus.
Another reason is that having an antivirus program will not make you 100% protected. In fact, common sense and avoiding mistakes are more important than installing a security program. There are threats that security programs, whether paid or not, will not protect you from.
For example, it is always important to install software only from official sites. You should also be careful about fake links sent to you via email, SMS or social networks. In addition, updating the system is essential to patch potential vulnerabilities that may be present. It is even possible to remove viruses without antivirus software.
In short, if you are in doubt about whether or not to pay for antivirus software, it is not necessary these days. Getting a free program is more than enough, as long as this program is reliable and works properly.