- Mar 15, 2011
- 13,070
1. Which free antivirus performed above and beyond the call of duty—and price?
The fact that free antivirus software can provide good protection against viruses and malware hasn't been a surprise for many years now. But which one is the best now? We test seven free antivirus programs, to determine which is the best for this year.
According to a study by software firm OPSWAT, free software takes up 50% of the global antivirus market for Windows PC users. Not surprising when you consider that—aside from the money spent on the electric bill and internet connection—free antivirus software costs nothing.
You Get What You Pay For
The drawback of most free antivirus software packages is that their functionality is limited. A lot of them are effectively advertisements for more capable paid versions, which provide additional features like identity theft protection and even parental controls. Another limitation is that compared to retail security suites, many free antivirus programs do not receive updates as frequently. They are also only licensed for personal or home use.
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