FREE ANTIVIRUS VS PAID ANTIVIRUS
Looking at the current computing landscape and the one to come, where cybersecurity will be, I dare say, in the most important sector of the technological world, an antivirus that protects us from different types of attacks becomes necessary.
The use of different types of devices also forces us to
protect not only the computer, but also the smartphone, tablet, laptop and
even, as you will see, connected smart devices (televisions and IoT devices).
At this point we can assess the installation of free
solutions to reduce that budget, since almost all Antivirus companies make
available free and paid versions at the same time.
So the question arises, why are we going to pay for an
antivirus when I can have it and use it for free? Do the free and paid versions
work the same?
The answer is not just one, and it will always depend on
the use we make of the device and the needs that we will seek that the Antivirus
covers.
The most important thing is to understand the environment
and the way (or prudence) in which we use the devices.
Based
On This We Can Find Three Possible Situations:
Home
use:
In this scenario, our recommendation is to look at the importance we give to
the content of the device and what we expect from the antivirus. If all
we want is to protect ourselves from known threats, we can use a free
antivirus. For example, Windows Defender, an antivirus that comes
integrated with the Windows operating system and that is highly regarded within
the variety of free antivirus. Professional
use: In work environments where there are a variety of users, devices and
locations, where system administrators need a global vision of what is
happening on the network and where it is very important that 100% of the
systems are protected, a free version will not be enough since the antivirus
must be equipped with additional systems for both monitoring and protection to
prevent problems from a single system from spreading to the rest. A note for
those of you who have been in computing for many years, Antivirus was a
constant disappointment during a dark time. We all suffer from it and today, a
bad image that is not real continues to be maintained. Currently,
Mixed:
Working both at home and in the office with the same device is the most common.
This makes the choice for this type of scenario easy. We will choose the most
comprehensive antivirus possible, and that would NOT be provided by any free
antivirus.
But
And What Differences Can We Find Between Them?
Normally, in free antivirus,
there is no Technical Support included. As an exception, note that the free
version of antivirus does include 24/7 technical support, but with additional
costs per call. In the paid versions we will have greater support coverage.
Usually included with subscription.
The protection index is higher in those of payment. The
protections against unknown viruses (so-called Zero day) and Ransomware are
more robust and the solutions are applied more quickly.
As additional modules, paid antivirus
usually also include: Control of connected devices (USB sticks, Bluetooth,
etc.), Internet browsing control (blocking of pages according to their
content), parental control, control of critical data protection (according to
the new Data Protection Regulation), control of patches applicable to the equipment,
password manager, etc.
Historically, antiviruses have always lagged behind
viruses. We always trusted that someone would happen before us and then we
would be protected just by updating the signature file, a method in which the
antivirus developer indicated new threats to it.
Today this panorama has changed. The number of threats is
approaching infinity and this mode of operation is not bearable for much
longer.
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