By: Mitch | Last updated August 27, 2022 
When it comes to computer security, one of the most important tools you can have is a good antivirus program. Antivirus software helps to protect your computer from malware ( or viruses), and keep your information safe while you are online. While there is technically a distinction between malware and a computer virus we can treat them in a similar type of thought process, just for clarity of this article. So when we say malware, virus, or any other version of the terms applied to malicious software we are just talking about a program that is made to hurt you while you are online. It doesn't matter if it is stealing data, stealing your credit card info, or popping up ads it is all bad and that is why we want to show you important things to look for in a program to prevent these issues.
There are many different types of antivirus programs available, and it can be difficult to know which one to choose. This guide will help you understand what features to look for in an antivirus program so that you can make the best choice for your needs.
You need to make sure the program offers real-time protection against malware and viruses, now what is that you might ask? It means that you get protected while you are online. So rather than get infected the antivirus program will stop it from entering your system. This is good because you can't be in danger if the malicious program can't even go onto your system.
If your program doesn't have real-time protection and it is a scan and fix program, that means that the security program will only fix the issues after you are infected. As you can probably see this isn't good.
It an important to find one with a user-friendly interface, which is kind of the same with everything in life. This means that the program should be easy to navigate and understand, again just like everything in life. Many antivirus programs have a complex interface that can be difficult to use, so it is important to find one that is simple. Having a user-friendly interface will make using the program easy so you won't need to have to worry if you get infected. The best program should just have one button that you click and it cleans the issue.
There are so many features that can be added to security programs, but the truth is you only need the protection. An anti-virus program must protect your system and clean up infections if you do get one. That is it, you don't need a VPN inside your program.
Some antivirus programs are free, while others can be quite expensive. So what should you get? In all honesty, if you are using the computer and surfing the internet to normal sites you might be able to get away with a free one. However, if you are downloading a lot of files from unknown sources, or going to questionable websites you might want to have a higher level of security.
Paying for antivirus programs can get you a better level of customer support if issues do arise. This is because customer service costs money, and so do program updates. So if you are thinking you want to be super safe we suggest you look at some of the paid programs. They can vary in price from $20-50 a year which is a good price for peace of mind.
When it comes to choosing an antivirus program, one important factor to consider is scanning speed. You don’t want a program that will bog down your computer or take forever to scan your files. Some programs are faster than others, so it’s worth doing some research to find out which one will work best for you. If you want to check out our ratings, make sure you check out our reviews of the best antivirus programs on the market today.
In general, free antivirus programs tend to be slower than paid ones. This is because they have fewer resources and aren’t as well-optimized. However, there are some fast free antivirus programs out there, so it’s worth taking the time to find one that suits your needs.
There are a few key features you should look for when choosing an antivirus program and we hoped that our quick guide helped you out. While we have tested a lot of different programs we have found that the ones with the best combination of the features above are the paid ones. Sometimes in life you get what you pay for, so at the end of the day it is really something only you can answer. Is there a price that you would pay for peace of mind and your data to be safe on your pc?
