Internet security software refers to a program or programs that provide a variety of protection, all necessary when using a computer online. It is possible to get very good internet security software for free, at least for home use, and commercial versions for small business use are generally very reasonably priced. The very best internet security software programs are paid versions, but the differences in protection are less than you might think.
Most of these programs are frequently referred to as an antivirus program, though in reality they provide protection from many types of malware. In addition to viruses, these security programs are looking for adware, spyware, ransomware, and other threats to your computer security. They provide this protection by scanning your computer, either on demand or on a schedule, and by scanning files either on your computer or online when you attempt to access them. Many internet security programs will even block access to suspicious web pages, and prevent any web pages from downloading suspicious files to your computer. When scanning, they are looking for both known threats, which internet security firms collect and study, and new ones that antimalware programs detect base on their behavior.
I’ve been using Avast and AVG recently, but have used free versions of McAfee and Norton antivirus programs in the past with good results. Between Avast and AVG, I like Avast slightly better because of their free mobile antivirus and security app, and the available paid SecureLine VPN. My only real complaint applies to both Avast and AVG, and that is I get easily annoyed by popups when web browsing, and that goes double when the popup is appearing on my Windows desktop. A small price to pay for such good malware protection, I guess.
All of the mentioned programs have received higher ratings than the default Microsoft Windows Defender, which should be the bare minimum you run on your computer. Whichever you choose, maximize your internet security software’s performance by keeping it, and your other software, especially operating systems, up to date. For best results set them all to automatically update, or at least inform you that updates are available. Choosing and using good internet security software is like applying Crime Repellent to your computer!
Staying safe in an unsafe world