The easiest way to describe a system without antivirus software is to compare it with a house whose main entrance is kept unlocked. An unprotected and open door is like a free pass for the burglars and intruders to come into the home. Similarly, an unprotected computer is like a free entryway for the viruses to attack the system. To understand how bad a virus attack on your computer can be, know that slowing down the computer is the least that can happen in that case.
In the worst-case scenario, the virus can delete or damage files, lead to data loss, reformat the hard disk, or increase the frequency of computer crashes. Thus choosing the right antivirus software is of utmost importance for the safety of your system.
On that note, here are the significant factors to consider when selecting antivirus software.
1 Compatibility with Your System
The first and foremost thing you need to consider while buying antivirus software is its compatibility with your system. Believe it or not, people frequently forget to check this simple fact. If you are a Windows user, you will have to pay attention to the operating system supported by the software. There are multiple versions of software that are suited to particular versions of Windows. This holds for Mac users, as well.
If you don’t get the right version as per the operating system, you will only be wasting money on something unable to protect and scan the computer properly.
2 Speed and Download Protection
Time is of the essence in modern times, and you can’t keep on waiting for the software to complete its scan. Therefore, how fast it can scan the system is one of the things to consider in selecting antivirus software. You should look for something with options like ‘quick scan’ to get the work done in a jiffy.
Download protection is also closely related to the speed of the software. The files you download can have all kinds of malicious viruses that can wreak havoc on your computer. As a result, you need software that quickly scans the files before downloading them in the system.
3 Real-Time Scanning and Protection
Real-time scanning is a convenient feature to have in the software. It lets some of the antivirus program features run in the background while you keep working without any disturbance.
You can schedule the time for these scans or turn them off at your convenience.
If you have to browse online, check emails, and download files continually, this is a must-have feature for you. The time factor again comes into play here because this means you’ll not have to boot up the software every hour or day. When you want your antivirus software to give you the maximum protection, make sure that you check that it has a real-time protection feature.
4 The Key Feature of Email Scanning
So, you received an email that looks completely legit. It comes from a known shopping website and has a coupon you’re supposed to download for discounts. And, the moment you download that innocuous-looking attachment, your system gets exposed to the virus and starts creating trouble.
Reports suggest that 22 percent of the breaches in 2019 involved phishing attacks. This indicates the importance of protecting your emails from falling prey to malware attacks. When the software has an email scanning feature, it saves your private data from being exposed to the virus or the hard drive from getting erased.
5 Scanning For All Kinds of Spyware
The right antivirus tool will offer protection against virus attacks and ensure that the spyware is kept at bay. Spyware is a particular kind of malware whose aim is to collect all your information covertly. It can cause as much damage to your system, if not more, when it’s downloaded in your system.
The problem is that you would never know when spyware enters your computer. The simple act of browsing the internet can make such malicious files to end up on your system. So, a program that also scans the network for spyware is necessary.
6 The Option of Free-Trial Is a Must
Antivirus software that comes with a free trial option is the one you should consider for sure. After all, you will get an idea about what the software offers and how it works during the trial period. You will even get an idea about whether it fits your system or not. Most quality antivirus programs let you have the complete experience of all the features it offers in the trial version. So, you get to have a clear idea of what you’re paying for.
It’s not that the software which doesn’t come with a trial version is unreliable. It’s just that you will have to go ahead with it blindly.
7 The Price of the Antivirus Software
Finally, the antivirus software price should not be such that it burns a hole in your pocket.
The price of the software available in the market varies widely. Thus it helps to run a comparison based on features and cost between the different programs.
There are a few free programs available in the market, but they are usually severely lacking in features. Besides, free programs also do not have a strict privacy policy that can protect your private information. So, go for reasonably priced antivirus software that works for you. Apart from that, some software charges a one-time fee, whereas, for others, you might have to opt for a monthly subscription or yearly. Thus, choose the most feasible term.
Final Thoughts
Buying an antivirus software does not have to be stressful or confusing when you take the time out to consider all its features. It is essential to keep in mind all the factors that have been underlined above before you shell out your money on software. After all, the right antivirus software that ticks all the boxes is nothing short of an investment, which needs to be made if you want to keep your data and windows healthy and working at all times.
