Should you buy antivirus software or get a free version?

What is more beneficial to buy an antivirus software or download the free version online? Computers have become so important in so many parts of our personal and professional lives that it is very important to safeguard the data stored on them against viruses that are designed to destroy or steal it.

However, many people take this very lightly and never think twice about the damage such viruses can cause. So, thinking that they are saving money, they look for free downloads of antivirus applications online. What they don’t realize is that even these free antivirus downloads can be spam or can inject viruses into the system.

However, those free versions that are not malicious in intent can be very ineffective at detecting and destroying viruses. Much of the free antivirus software is outdated and not powerful enough to fight the virus or completely remove it from the system.

With this in mind, many software companies are trying to capitalize on the demand for good antivirus software. Thus, they come up with antivirus software that is powerful enough to combat any form of virus and also provide a one-year free update after which the user can update the virus for a small additional fee. This software is normally moderately priced ($25 – $65) and can provide a complete solution for securing your systems and protecting data from virus threats.

When you become a paying customer of an antivirus program, you’re entitled to certain special benefits that you don’t get when you download free antivirus software. You’ll have to pay for customer support, possibly after a short period of free support, but the most serious drawback is that the software doesn’t automatically update regularly. This prevents it from being effective against new viruses that appear every day.

Whereas when you purchase an antivirus software, the software company is responsible for all your inquiries regarding the software and its operation. As competition increases among antivirus software companies, more offer greater functionality (ie anti-adware, privacy features, etc.) and better value. Some of the big players are also offering free 24/7 live support. In addition, the software you purchase will entitle you to free updates for at least one year, and then you will need to pay only a small fee to update and continue using the software.

Therefore, many benefits are experienced when a user opts for paid antivirus software. Now this may not come as a surprise, but it is very common for people to pay more in the long run by choosing the cheap short term option.