It’s a free digital world out there—free navigations, free maps, free calls on the internet, as well as free apps for laptops and smartphones. But can you entrust your digital security to these free programs? Certainly not! Viruses and malware are real, and they pose serious threats. Hence, the need for an antivirus download is essential.
Virus removal software is a tool to help prevent such attacks. Though not every type of cyberattack can be restricted by antivirus software, it can be a great asset when aiming to prevent attacks on computers and laptops. There is a massive difference between having antivirus software and not having one. Besides, not all software is created equal. It is hard to find software that fares equally well in all aspects of protection, performance and usability. For sure, you are familiar with names such as AVG, McAfee, and Norton. But can you count on them and will they give you the peace of mind you need? That’s what we’ll find out.
How much load does antivirus software put on a system?
Antivirus software has to run in the background whenever you are installing the software or browsing the web. This means that they will take up a considerable amount of your system memory and processing power. Good software should be able to protect your computer without using a lot of system resources, i.e., the performance efficiency should be high. The software should scan for viruses when you are downloading files, unarchiving or archiving, launching applications, copying files to the system, and browsing websites without slowing the tasks down. Yes, the scanning will add an extra step to all of these tasks, but it shouldn’t slow down the tasks noticeably.
Is Windows Defender good enough?
Before the advent of Windows 10, PCs would constantly ask the user to install antivirus software on the computer. But the latest and final version of Windows has brought about a significant change in that tradition. Many users, therefore, don’t bother to pay for other software when they can use Windows Defender without any extra cost. So, how does Windows Defender stack up against other paid antiviruses? In fact, quite well. Windows Defender does not offer a lot of features. But what they do, they do it really well. They are also really easy to use. But other software has more features than Defender when it comes to online protection and real-time monitoring.
Best antivirus software to buy in the market
You don’t have to be a tech-savvy security professional to find out the best antivirus software. There are a few factors that make a good antivirus. If the software is extremely good at online security, that doesn’t mean the software is right for you. You also have to consider the system specifications and also how you will be using the system. We have compiled below the top antivirus software this 2019 that will help your devices win the battle against even the most destructive and sophisticated malware attacks.
- Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2019 – This computer antivirus offers excellent protection and boasts over 500 million users. That’s because it is easy to set up and follows a simple installation procedure. The inclusion of a password manager, frequent database updates, and an in-built VPN service makes Bitdefender even more attractive. But the downside is that it is resource-intensive. If your system doesn’t have the power to handle the load, it can be annoying.
- Norton Antivirus Plus – This protects your system smoothly, and hence, is one of the best antiviruses for PCs. On top of regular virus protection, it also offers advanced financial security, global civilian intelligence network, and private security. An added advantage Norton has over Bitdefender is that it is light on system resources. In case you don’t want all the features, the software offers some customisability.
- F-Secure Antivirus SAFE – This is the best user-friendly antivirus for Mac, Windows, Android and iOS. If you are a frequent online shopper and is worried about hackers, you ought to get F-Secure. It has a reputation to be one of the best internet security software. There is also a device locator option, which lets you find the location of your device, in case you lose it. Easy to understand user interface is a desirable feature in any software and F-Secure scores pretty well in this regard.
- Kaspersky Anti-Virus – With its features such as automatic scans, prevention from crypto mining infection and simplified security management, it is no doubt a solid security choice for all. For that reason, Kaspersky is the most popular software among home users. It offers everything that a person wants using an intuitive user interface. Security performance of the software is also remarkable, considering all the different features that it offers. Kaspersky has the best malicious software removal tool in its category.
- Trend Micro Antivirus+ Security – It has a strong reputation for ransomware protection, email scam safeguarding, and advanced AI learning. Hence, it is considered as one of the most reliable virus protection software in the market. Trend Micro antivirus is a great option if you don’t want to spend a lot but still want a decent amount of protection from virus attacks. Trend Micro offers a 30-day trial period that has all the same features as that of the paid version.
One thing to keep in mind when you are using antivirus software is that it doesn’t matter how good of software you have if you prevent it from running in the background. If the program is slowing down your system too much, the solution is to replace your software with one that doesn’t hog up as much resource. Installing regular updates is what maintains the effectiveness of the program. Therefore, make sure that you have turned on automatic updates in the settings. Sometimes, the Windows firewall will prevent the program from updating. Making an exception in the firewall will fix this issue.
Norton vs McAfee vs Kaspersky: Which antivirus is suitable for laptops?
Be it Norton, McAfee or Kaspersky, all of them are popular antivirus software. All of these have a huge user base and are proven to be effective. Therefore, picking the best among them is a tricky task. But there are differences in the way they work, the system load, and pricing plans. Besides, each of them has its own unique features and set of strengths and weaknesses that set it apart from the rest. Here are a few of their features that can further aid you in making the right choice for your digital security.
• Norton Antivirus – If you are looking for software that can prevent malware attacks, here is your answer. It also comes with a handy browser extension that has a pretty rad URL blocker. It comes pre-populated with a list of malicious websites. And it will also let you add the URLs of the websites you want to block, as well. The excellent file protection service in the software can detect suspect downloads immediately.
• McAfee Antivirus – Unlike Norton and Kaspersky, McAfee has a distinctive way of marketing. It comes as a security plugin with a slew of popular software, whether you like it or not. When it comes to protection, it scores above Norton. Even though the user interface is easy to understand, it doesn’t offer a lot. One downside is that it is pretty heavy on the system.
• Kaspersky Antivirus – The major benefit of Kaspersky is that it does the basics really well. File protection and online security features are excellent. On top of that, there is a URL blocker similar to that of Norton. The smart monitoring feature that can reverse the malicious actions of a virus is also remarkable. Regardless of all that, the one thing that makes it popular among home users is that it lets the users control the amount of system resource that it uses. For people running old PCs, this is really helpful.
As you can see, each software has its fair share of pros and cons. You might also want to look at the free versions of the software before purchasing. The way free versions work is different between brands. McAfee has an unlimited trial option that offers a limited amount of protection. On the other hand, Kaspersky and Norton have a thirty days trial period after which you have to either purchase the software or remove it from the computer. Thus, it is up to you to decide which one to go for. However, keeping the above points in mind will help you a lot in making an informed decision for system security.
Where can you buy the latest antivirus online in Dubai?
Let’s face the frustrating truth—cybercrime rates skyrocket significantly, and malware threats become more advanced every year. And year after year, we are relying more and more on online services. Nowadays, TVs, refrigerators, and even light bulbs are connected to the internet. Therefore, you need to step up your game and invest in the latest antivirus software. For more options, explore more than 500 online stores on our product search engine today!
