Online security is a big issue. Even an occasional home surfer needs to think about what could happen when they log on to the Internet. Without online security in place, they simply open up their computer to the outside world.
This could see them harm their systems, their privacy and even their finances if they are targeted by viruses, spyware and malware. Many opt to buy security programs to get the protection they need but many others will simply use free software to do the same job. Is this a feasible solution?
What are the Differences Between Buying Security Software and Getting it Free?
Although the obvious answer is cost, this isn't the only difference here. For example, commercial programs may come with a range of solutions in place that offer a complete security package. Freeware, on the other hand, may not give such a range of solutions in one single piece of software.
So, for example, buying anti virus software may give you virus protection, a firewall, anti spyware, anti spam and an email scanner in one download. To get the same overall protection from freeware, the user may have to download a variety of different packages. But, this may still give them all the protection they need at no cost.
The Advantages of Using Free Anti Virus, Firewall and Spyware Programs
People have different needs from security software and, consequently, find a range of different advantages to using free solutions. Apart from the obvious cost benefits, these include:
- Users can pick and choose what software they need to download. If, for example, their operating system comes with its own virus protection or firewall, then they may simply need to add a couple of free programs to get complete protection.
- If they don't have access to any systems, they can simply build their own customised protection from scratch. There are freeware versions of most of the necessary components available to download online.
- Security systems that are bought off the shelf can take up an awful lot of space on a computer. Users can minimise disk space usage by simply picking the free programs they feel are necessary. Many people don't need some of the protection given by off the shelf systems. But, they have to pay for them and give up disk space as part of the package.
So, for some people, using freeware security downloads are an easier solution. Before making a decision, however, there are also some downsides to doing this that need to considered.
The Disadvantages of Using Freeware Security Software
There are a few points to consider when comparing the financial and protection costs of using free software rather than a commercial program. These include:
- Free software producers don't have to regularly upgrade their systems. Although many will come with free updates and will be improved regularly, some won't. A company that sells anti virus software or a firewall will be more likely to commit to offering these services to their paying customers. This matters. Out of date anti virus protection, for example, is really no protection at all.
- Most people looking for complete free protection will have to download a few programs from a few different places which can be time consuming. Buying off the shelf software may be easier in that they can get more coverage from one download.
- Some free programs may not come with all the features and benefits or comprehensive security elements that come with commercial software.
Some people do worry about the provenance of free security software and how robust the solution on offer may be. Being careful about which programs are used can help avoid problems here. Also, many reputable commercial security businesses, such as AVG and Kasperky, for example, offer free versions of their products so these may be worth looking at.
How to Find Free Anti Virus, Firewall and Other Security Downloads
Online searching and looking at reviews on computer software portals and advisory sites can make it easier to find suitable packages. Reviews, either by the sites themselves or by other users, are particularly useful. The best way to assess whether a free program will be effective is to tap into the experience of others. Consumers could also:
- Look at what they already have loaded on to their systems. Many operating systems and Internet/email providers will offer a range of security solutions that are already available on a computer or that can be downloaded quickly and free of charge. These can be enabled or disabled according to user preference. Many solutions here give free and robust solutions that could suit the needs of many people.
- Look at what they can get from existing contacts. People who bank online, for example, may be able to download additional security programs from their bank. It's becoming more common for banks to offer this kind of software as a free download. After all, it is in their best interests to help protect their customers against fraud and security issues.
Consumers that don't want to take a completely free software route and that are considering buying the security programs that they need also often have the option of using a free trial with many systems. This can be a useful thing to look at as it will give them the chance to see how they like a system and how well it works for them. They could also use this as a way of comparing commercial solutions with freeware alternatives.
In recent months a lot of individuals have also been targeted by scareware scams that encourage them to download anti virus and security software. The message given here often states that they have a virus or registry issue and the user is encouraged to click to download a solution. Drive-by downloads also cause problems for many. These issues should be avoided at all costs and give another reason why getting protection in place may be worth doing.
Carol Finch - Carol Finch is the Topic Editor for Retirement Planning, Budgeting, E-Commerce & Technical/Business Writing on Suite101.
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