Is Free Anti-Virus Protection Worth It?

When most people think of free giveaways, they often think that the giveaway ends up being cheap. If that is the case, why would you use free anti-virus protection for your computer? Wouldn't it end up causing more harm than good? Or would it just be a type of placebo that makes you think your computer is safe?

Truth be told, there are alternatives to the pricey anti-virus software on the market. While they may not offer comprehensive coverage or live updates, they offer enough protection to keep your computer safe during the most common tasks. Free software will be able to do the job, even if you are convinced it lacks some of the sparkle that comes with paid protection.

If you are not comfortable with strictly free anti-virus software, many of the more expensive programs, like Norton Anti-Virus and McAfee, offer trials of their software. After thirty days, you either have to uninstall the anti-virus protection or purchase a paid version. Either way, you benefit from learning about the software, and you can determine if it is right for you.

There are free alternatives out there for anti-virus protection. No matter what your budget, make sure you are protected. If that means investing in paid software, do it. You do not want to lose your computer over a virus or a worm if you can avoid it, and only by using anti-virus software in some capacity can you avoid that scenario.