In a world where online threats like ransomware, phishing attacks, malware, etc. are so rampant, a robust anti-malware software is of paramount importance.
With a good antivirus program, not only can you protect your important documents that are stored on your computer, you can also prevent identity theft that can directly rob you of your finances. That said, with so much variety available, it can be challenging to pick a good program that’s within your budget range and, at the same time, meets your requirements.
If you don’t want to regret buying an antivirus program that fails to do its job, then make sure it has the following 7 features:
- Email Protection
You can’t have the best internet security unless you have protection for your emails. This is because a large number of malware attacks and phishing attacks are launched through emails only.
- Speed
Almost every antivirus program has to perform a thorough scan of your entire system on a regular basis. Since an average computer has hundreds of thousands of small and large files that an anti-virus program has to scan, speed and efficiency become an important factor here.
While your computer’s own configuration (CPU, memory, HDD or SSD, etc.) has a huge impact on the processing time required by the antivirus program, its own code has an effect on your resources as well.
So, if you don’t want to wait for long periods every week or so (depending on the schedule of the full-scans), it’s important to check if the software is efficient enough.
- Number of Systems Supported
Since antivirus programs are expensive, and many people own more than a single computer or laptop, the manufacturers of these programs allow the users to install a single product on multiple systems. However, there are some programs that can be installed on just one computer. Thus, if you want to protect multiple units, you may want to get a software that allows for that.
- Download Protection
You can’t be too safe with the files you download from the Internet. Plus, sometimes files are downloaded even when you are not aware. Either way, there is always the risk of malware being downloaded into your computer. Thus, be sure to check that the anti-malware software you are using has protection against harmful downloads.
- Free Trial
A lot of antivirus programs come with a free trial. Under this, you can enjoy all the features of the program, with some limitations, for a short period of time (usually a week or a month). The idea behind this is to give you a first-hand experience of the program.
After the trial period ends, you are free to purchase a license that grants you the full functionality. However, if you are unhappy with the experience, then you can chuck it and try another one. This allows you to prevent wasting money on a potentially bad/undesired program.
- 360° Coverage
There are literally millions of malware programs floating on the fabric of the Internet. These include viruses, trojans, adware, ransomware, and more. In fact, close to one million new malware programs are created by hackers and cybercriminals on a daily basis.
A good antivirus program must provide protection against all types of malware. In addition to that, it should offer frequent updates that cover any new threats that are released on the Internet.
- Technical Support
If you are tech-savvy, then you won’t have much problem installing and setting up an antivirus program. However, when you update your system or install programs that interfere with the antivirus program, then some unrecognized problems may emerge. This is where you may need help from a tech support executive. So, make sure that the software provider has good after-sales support.
When you buy an antivirus program, then you want to keep using it for a long time. Thus, it pays to do your homework and take time before making your final decision.