The necessity of using antivirus software is no longer questioned by the majority of modern users. But the choice between paid and free antivirus is not as obvious as you might think.
Many people think that paid versions of the most famous antiviruses are better. Yes, indeed, paid antiviruses protect the user's computer, so to speak, comprehensively. Most often, such software is able to work against network attacks, phishing, keyloggers, and prevent children from accessing unwanted information on the Internet.
But not all of these functions are needed by every user - someone only writes essays and reports and plays offline games, while someone watches movies on the Internet, plays online, manages their bank account, makes purchases and does much more that can pose a threat to the normal operation of the computer and existing user information. It is also important to take into account the knowledge of users, their ability to recognize phishing sites, not to download obvious viruses instead of the necessary files.
So, when choosing an antivirus, you need to find out exactly what kind of threats it protects. Usually, the description of an antivirus contains a full list of its capabilities (if you do not understand the essence of threats, be sure to consult with a competent specialist or read about them on the Internet). Then think about what you use your computer for - if only to visit well-known sites, communicate through popular social networks and popular email services, then you do not need an expensive antivirus with a lot of functions. You don't need a paid antivirus, most often, and experienced users who know how to customize the OS on their own. You can also recommend free antivirus software for those who do not store (and will not store) important information on their computer.
Useful tip: often a laptop or netbook is purchased in order to take it with you on trips. Such computers are compact and, the cheapest, low-speed. For such PCs it is better to choose antiviruses that will not "hinder" them (even to the detriment of the functionality of antivirus software).
So which is the best to put on your laptop or computer? This question cannot be answered unequivocally. In each case, it is necessary to analyze the situation individually. But I must say one thing - the most expensive and "sophisticated" antivirus is not a guarantee of the safety of your equipment and information. The main guarantee of security is to understand the essence of the actions performed on the PC.
