How to Select Virus Protection Software

Computers schemers and scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated. As a result, viruses and trojans are attacking computers in a variety of innovative ways. With the potential for virus infection so high, the market for virus protection software, has grown extremely competitive. This means a lot of choices for the consumer.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Information about your computer's operating system

1. Gather a list of antivirus software from which to select. Whether you are buying online or at a retail store, assemble a list with the names and prices of all software packages and services available to you. There are few big names in antivirus software (among them McAffe, Kaspersky and Norton Antivirus), but there are many smaller or more specialized antivirus software packages available, too.

2. Eliminate any software outside your price range. Many virus protection software packages have a "premium" version with more features and support than a simpler program. These often have more features than you need for home use. Other programs are more business-oriented and require the purchase of site licenses or server software.

3. Read media reviews of antivirus software in your price range. Reading reviews by knowledgeable reviewers can help you select a program that's right for you. Some magazines and websites offer "shootout" reviews in which the features and performance of each antivirus software package are directly compared to each other in chart format. These articles are of great value when shopping for antivirus software.

4. Read user reviews of virus protection software. Many shopping sites also have user reviews and ratings, which often expose problems professional reviewers miss. These reviews may also come from people who use the product for extended periods of time, rather than professional reviewers who use the product only long enough to explore most of its features.

5. Make sure the program is compatible with your operating system. No matter what features a virus protection program offers, none of them are helpful if you can't use them on your computer.

6. Evaluate the features lists of all software packages. Some software packages offer better support or a longer update subscription than others. Select one that will provide enough support for your knowledge level.

7. Purchase the antivirus software from a respected retail store or online distributor. Purchasing the antivirus software from an unknown third party puts you at risk of buying bogus antivirus software. Such software has the chance of itself being infected with a virus or other malware.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're shopping online, a simple search engine query for "antivirus" or "antivirus software" will give you links to the top producers of antivirus software.
• Be aware that some user reviews may be erroneous, inaccurate or even bogus (an advertisement in disguise). Don't rely solely on user reviews to form your opinion.