Link: http://www.dog-on-fire.com
Computer Repair - To pay or not to pay for anti-virus...
With the way the economy is, we are all trying to save a buck where we can. It's understandable; who wants to pay at least $49.99 a year for virus protection? Well, after reading you may see why it's justified.
Obviously there is going to be a difference in the quality of the free anti-virus product and the pay anti-virus product by the same company. For example, AVG has a free anti-virus product; it can scan files in real-time, stops viruses and spyware from entering the computer, checks webpages as you visit them and make sure that pages you click on are relatively safe. However, the free version doesn't monitor for root kits, spam, and virus infection over IM, nor does it have a firewall. While you are moderately protected with the free version, there are still many open doors for people to get access to your computer.
This model holds true with most antivirus vendors. The free version is always lacking some functions which ultimately leave your system insecure. Also, technical support is often limited to what you can find online through forums or other webpage’s, so if you have an issue with a virus, or have trouble installing or configuring an application to work with your anti-virus, you are left on your own.
The actual anti-virus / anti-spyware scanners are going to be the same in the free or the paid, but the other functions are what you should be concerned about. Once infected, a virus can cause many issues and often shutdown internet access or stop a computer from functioning. At this point you would have to take it to a professional to be cleaned, usually costing over $100! (Only $89.99 through me PLUS Free diagnostics and Free Optimization). If you are frequenting "bad" sites and becoming infected 2 or 3 times a year, it would make sense to purchase an antivirus product that is going to protect you from those attacks.
Norton Internet Security 2010 is what I have found to be the most useful in preventing infection. Like most top-of-the-line anti-virus products, its scanning method works well at monitoring files as they are coming in to your machine, rather than scanning after. It's this real-time protection combined with the ability to detect unknown viruses that allow it to be so effective. Without paying for an anti-virus, it difficult if not impossible to find a product that will protect you against unknown strains of viruses in real-time.
As an added measure, having an additional spyware monitor such as Spy Sweeper, can eliminate nearly all chance of infection. Both Norton and Spysweeper can run concurrently, and neither takes up a great deal of memory so the computer will still run smoothly.
So, to conclude, I would recommend spending the money to buy anti-virus/anti-spyware products. In the long run, the potential cost of a virus infection could be in the thousands if bank cards or identity is stolen. A free anti-virus just can't protect you from everything that is out there as well as a pay anti-virus can. Even the best defense can sometimes let viruses through.
Thanks for reading about my Computer Repair!
Dog On Fire - Computer Repair in Bellingham
Bellingham, WA
http://www.dog-on-fire.com
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