Free vs. Pay

• Although many antivirus solutions cost money, some are free for non-commercial use. For home users, the providers of these antivirus solutions attempt to make their products more compelling, and earn money through the sale of upgraded versions or through fee-based technical support. A free antivirus program isn't necessarily worse than one for which you must pay. In fact, independent companies such as CNET have rated many free antivirus solutions quite high. The quality of the technical support that you receive is often the factor that differentiates free software from software that you must buy; you shouldn't expect a swift response to questions that you may have regarding an antivirus solution for which you didn't pay. Also, be warned that "free antivirus software" can sometimes be malware. If you see a pop-up window while browsing the web telling you that your computer is infected, and that you must download a program to resolve the issue, close the window immediately. This type of "free antivirus software" is almost always a virus itself. Look for a review from a trusted independent source before selecting any antivirus solution for your computer.
  
  

Special Features

• Examine the features of each antivirus solution before selecting the one that is right for you. Many antivirus programs are, in fact, full Internet security suites, containing elements such as email spam filtering, a software firewall, and parental access controls to keep children from viewing questionable material. Depending on the security software that you are currently using, you may find that a full Internet security suite meets your needs better than a program that only provides virus protection. Additionally, before purchasing or downloading an antivirus solution, read about the method that it uses to detect new threats. Viruses often cause the most damage in the first few days after they are released into the wild, because of the time that it can take before those viruses are detected by antivirus software. The speed at which an antivirus program can detect and eliminate a new virus can often be more valuable than any special feature.