Whenever you’re choosing software, you’re often in a position where you lack the in-depth knowledge needed to make the decision. Therefore, you choose based on something as unimportant as how well you like the name or the logo. The best of these faulty criteria is name recognition. You’re more likely to pick an antivirus that you’ve already heard of.
So, in order to avoid making your decisions this way, here are the top eight criteria you can use instead.
The first thing you need to understand is that your knowledge of the subject matter tends to be rather limited and that if you want to get to the bottom of it, you need to find information from a credible source.
As a layman, the most you can learn about the subject matter is your own personal experience with antivirus software in the past. This is very limited and not nearly as indicative as you might have liked.
According to tech expert Krishi Chowdhary from Techopedia, when looking for virus protection tools, you have to review them twice: as a standalone software and in relation to other apps. In other words, being technologically literate is just one part of the equation; you also need to have a good reference point in order to make this evaluation meaningful.
The next thing you need to watch out for is the compatibility. No, antivirus software is not designed just for Windows. Even other operating systems are in danger, and you need to make sure to protect them all. Remember, if you’re using a browser, you’re likely accessing the same assets from various devices, which is why protecting them all is equally as important.
Make sure that you look for an antivirus that’s actually compatible with your operating system.
Your computer is not the only device that requires an antivirus. Install it on your phone and your tablet, as well. This way, you’ll provide your digital presence with more extensive protection.
Even on Linux, you need to have an antivirus. You see, it’s not just about protecting yourself. Even if you are a user of a Linux-based system, you’re still on a network with other devices, and you do not want to affect them.
Probably the biggest question you have to ask when picking an antivirus is whether it provides protection from current-gen and next-gen malware. The phrase that you’re looking for is zero-day protection. It implies that the software in question is capable of protecting you from every single cybersecurity threat that is known today.
While there are new threats every day, even old cybersecurity risks are evolving. The only way to stay safe in a modern digital environment is to make sure that you pick an antivirus that’s up to the task.
When choosing, check if the software in question is promising zero-day protection or not.
Needless to say, this is only possible if you keep your software updated at all times. The meaning of zero-day protection means little if the system is not set to today. Sure, it’s protecting you at a current date but what date is it?
The next thing you have to address is the convenience of actually using the software in question. First of all, how easy it is to set up or install. Second, how easy is it to learn how to use it? With antivirus, you’re supposed to require as little input as possible. The system should be installed, ask you to customize the installation as little as possible, and just passively protect you.
Even after the installation, it should run in the background with as little interference as possible. Ideally, it shouldn’t even require a reboot on initial deployment, update, or on any other occasion.
Ideally, you’ll only be notified when a threat is spotted or removed but even in these scenarios, the software should decide for you and not bother you with questions of whether you want to quarantine it or not. You’re not a cybersecurity specialist, and you don’t want to have to educate yourself additionally for every single such event.
Basic protection is supposed to be pretty similar across different antivirus platforms (especially if you’ve already checked the current/next-gen cybersecurity protections). This means that a difference between them sometimes comes with additional features.
For instance, there are some antivirus software that also provide you with VPN, parental controls, password managers, and even email protection.
Now, these are not just some random features. They’re tools that you probably already use or intend to use. In other words, they’re tools that you’re ready and willing to pay for. When you add the cost of potentially buying these features into the mix, what you actually get is the amount of money you’ll save if you pick this particular antivirus and go premium.
Keep in mind that the list of additional features differs between antiviruses and that you should seriously consider them before picking one over another.
Let’s be completely honest and admit that price plays a huge role when choosing any software license. Sure, antiviruses are usually not that expensive, but this is an extra expense that will add to your monthly overhead. This is why you need to focus on two things.
First, you need to consider the cost and compare it to other antivirus software.
Second, you need to consider a payment plan. Some antivirus software requires you to pay for a full year in advance instead of being able to pay on a monthly basis. Others don’t insist on this, but they do offer a discount if you choose to do so. The bottom line is that you need to have a choice.
For some people, the up-front cost is too strong of a deterrent, but a lot of people just look at the monthly cost and completely forget to ask about it until they’re charged. Asking the right questions will help you avoid this.
This one is not as big as it once was, but some antivirus hardware has higher requirements, which means that they might be a bit more demanding on your system. Sure, modern computers have processors that are more than capable of handling this, but still, this is a supplementary feature (regardless of how important), and you don’t want it slowing down your device.
In the past, while the majority of computers were still offline and there was only the risk of corrupting (not stealing) data, there was a joke about how no virus can slow your computer down as an antivirus. Well, this overexaggerated claim wasn’t completely unfounded.
Not being satisfied with your antivirus and having to make a switch to a better option will only happen if you don’t make the right choice the first time around. So, pick carefully. Review all the options and make sure to set objective criteria. Sure, at the end of the day, most of the top-rated software will tick all the boxes on this list and, at that point, it’s completely fine to go by personal preference.
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