Introduction
Five or ten years ago, if you went to buy a new system and the salesperson requested you to purchase an antivirus solution, you would laugh off the suggestion and walk out the store. In the last few years, the tables have turned remarkably.
In current times, it is the consumer enquires aggressively about the best antivirus solutions. Hacking predators are always on the lookout for unsuspecting and vulnerable computer users and devices.
It is no longer the CEO or CTO of big companies who face threats. Instead, it is your twelve your old son and daughter who are as susceptible to cyber-attacks as anyone else is.
In this article, we are going to help consumers pick out the best antivirus solutions for themselves and their entire family.
Do we really need an Antivirus Package?
According to a cybersecurity report, cyberattacks and privacy breaches will cost the world USD 6 Trillion by 2021. Malware, ransomware, phishing scams, IoT threats, and webcam snooping are being used by hackers to target businesses, professionals, and healthy individuals.
The advanced nature of the threats means that nothing from your desktop, laptop, tablet, or even your smartphone is secure. Any time you try to access the internet or download a file from the web, you are exposing yourself to some threat.
While governments and international organizations are working overtime to catch culprits and bring them to justice, very few of us know what steps to take if attacked?
According to one study, 56% of Americans have no idea what to do in the event of an attack. What is even more troubling is that 64% of Americans have not yet checked (are entirely unaware) of ever knowing whether they were a victim of an attack.
Some of the things, which hackers can do if you are not using a good antivirus are-
- Steal passwords, usernames and IDs of your bank details, social media pages, and even streaming services.
- Create financial fraud by gaining access to your credit cards, debit cards and net banking facilities.
- Make purchases from different e-commerce platforms and exhaust your bank account.
- Steal audio and video conversations by tampering with your device’s mike, your webcam or even your front facing camera.
- Sell information on the dark net (names, emails, phone numbers, social security numbers, etc.)
5 Things to Consider before Purchasing an Antivirus Solution: The List
1. Ease of Usability
One of the first things you should consider before purchasing an antivirus is whether it is easy to use. It involves taking into consideration many factors-
1. Is the antivirus software too heavy (will it lead to my system slowing down)?
2. Can I access all the features and functionalities?
3. Will all members of the family be able to use it without getting confused (from my parents to my children)?
You should always pick an antivirus that has a clean user-interface, runs automatic scans regularly, and keeps itself updated at all times. It will ensure that you do not have to spend extra time on understanding the software or manually doing everything.
2. Number of Devices and Operating Systems
Imagine you fork out a decent sum of money on antivirus and come to know that it just supports a few devices and operating systems. It is a problem which is very frequent. Consumers should think about the number of devices, which they want the antivirus to cover.
If you are looking for an antivirus solution for the entire family, you need to consider the different types of devices (laptops, cell phones, tabs, iPads, etc.). Lastly, the antivirus must be able to run different operating systems (Windows, Android, Mac, and iOS).
3. Whether 24×7 Customer Care, Live Chat and Tech Support is on offer
Not everyone who uses an antivirus solution can be a software geek or a nerd. For instance, families and individuals who want security and protection should go for antivirus solutions, which offer 24×7-tech support. You can be hacked or come under attack at any point of the day; this is why you need the antivirus company always to be available.
The best antivirus solutions providers invest in customer relationships by offering excellent tech support. This consideration looks insignificant at some point! However, trust us, if you are under threat without any help from the company, the situation can become worse.
4. List of Features and complete set of Protection
The best antivirus solutions regularly update their virus databases to keep track of all present and emerging threats. In addition to this, a robust antivirus should be able to give you protection against these-
- Ransomware
- Spyware
- Malware
- Email Phishing scams
- Spamming
- Webcam Snooping
- Password Protection
- Ecommerce and Payments
- Firewall
- Downloads
While this list might look to cover almost all kinds of threats, the best antivirus solutions even go beyond this list. Whenever you are looking to purchase an antivirus, make a quick check box of the list mentioned above and compare the same with what the antivirus offers.
5. Pricing
Any consideration list cannot be complete without discussing the pricing and value for money’ proposition. There are many antivirus solutions in the market, which are cheap, and then there are others, which are a bit on the expensive side. However, it is necessary to consider the five points mentioned above, before agreeing on the price.
Affordability is something that you should always aim for when making a purchase. When it comes to the top antivirus solutions, you can get Bitdefender Total Security at the best price.
Conclusion
If you are unable to make your decision on the first go, many antivirus companies offer a thirty-day free trial period before making a purchase. It can help you understand the software, its features, and its usability. Once you are satisfied after using it for thirty days, you can make your purchase.
Conversations on do I need an antivirus have ceased to exist. Discussions, which do take place, now revolve around features, pricing, device coverage, and tech support. Do you think that there can be some other considerations? Let us know in the comments section below.
