Best Antivirus Software Companies

Security service

Consumers should decide what type of antivirus service they are interested in. There are three basic types of antivirus software.

• Installed software: Many companies offer software via download or DVD that’s installed on the computer and device. The software detects existing viruses and stops new infections.
• Cloud-based: Other companies provide cloud-based services that monitor devices and scan suspicious files in the cloud in order to speed up response times.
• Parental monitoring: Some virus protection companies also offer parental monitoring that can track the websites that are visited and limit access to certain sites.

Warranty

Warranties are good to have no matter what type of service a consumer is paying for. They help to cover different aspects of the service in the event something goes wrong.

• Unhappy with service: If a consumer is unhappy with antivirus software, some warranties offer a refund within a certain period of time.
• Data protection: Some antivirus companies offer money back if a virus or malware is found and the software can’t remove it.
• Software glitch: A warranty may also cover issues with the software or offer free upgrades if a known issue occurs.

Pricing

Antivirus companies can have vastly different pricing structures. Depending on the needs of the consumer, certain plans might be more appealing than others.

• One-time purchase: Many antivirus software companies offer a one time download or a software DVD for a flat fee with upgrades being required annually or later. Antivirus signatures that define what the software blocks are updated as they become available.
• Subscription services: Customers who opt for a subscription service get software updates as they happen along with antivirus signature updates. Subscriptions are annual and can renew automatically, and some companies offer a discount for multiple-year subscriptions.
• Tiered pricing: Many companies have different tiers of pricing, usually with a basic but effective antivirus software version and one or more higher-priced versions with more features.

History

A company's history can be very informative when it comes to choosing which antivirus software company to work with.

• Former clients: Check out the company's list of former clients to see if they have worked with any clients in your industry before.
• Reputation: Working with established companies will sometimes result in fewer issues than brand new ones that are still working out issues.
• Rate of progress: Consumers should pay attention to how often a company comes out with new products and updates its existing products and try to work only with companies that are constantly progressing.

Business vs. individual

Some companies focus on home computer security while others deal with businesses. Most antivirus companies serve both markets but prioritize one.

• Parental monitoring: Home computers and other devices used by households with small children should look for companies that offer parental monitoring of computers.
• 24/7 emergency assistance: Businesses should look for companies that can respond to security breaches immediately in order to minimize their effect.
• Fast scans: Businesses should look for companies that perform fast scans daily or hourly to catch any security issues before they infect users.

Support

Customer support is a very important part of choosing an antivirus software company. Consumers should be confident that they are working with a company that has their best interests in mind and is available to assist them.

• On-call assistance: If something goes wrong with the software or security service, the best companies will not only have technical experts on call to help but will have dedicated support personnel for each account in order to ensure that these issues are handled in a timely and efficient manner.
• Sales: The sales process should go smoothly, but if you run into any problems support personnel should be available to help you find the product you need.
• Warranties/refunds: The company should be able to quickly process warranty issues and refunds.

PC

PC antivirus software works by scanning your system for viruses. It runs in the background of your computer at all times, scanning Internet downloads, zip files, even Word documents, for suspicious activity including viruses, worms and malware. In addition to scanning every download, antivirus software will perform full-system scans on a set schedule, usually once a week. During these full-system scans, your software will make sure there aren’t any viruses hanging around dormant in unused files on your computer. You can buy PC antivirus software on a disc or have it downloaded and installed on your hard drive. Some PC software is available as a free download, while other systems come at a price. Typically, the free PC antivirus software will do the major tasks you need including checking for viruses and malware and performing routine system scans. The benefits of paying for PC antivirus software include access to a 24/7 help desk, parental controls and more elaborate firewalls to block intrusions.

Mac

Many antivirus companies develop software for Mac computers. They provide virus protection that works on Mac desktops, MacBooks, iPhones and iPads.

Cloud-based

Many companies provide cloud-based services. These are real-time services that detect something happening on a device and copy a fingerprint of it into the cloud in order to scan it immediately for viruses. This helps reduce the time it takes to detect suspicious activity or malware. The cloud works incredibly fast, making it a good choice if you have high-speed Internet. Another benefit of using cloud antivirus software is that cloud updates are done automatically by the cloud system, which means updates won’t interfere with your downloads or otherwise slow down your personal computer’s processing.

Mobile Devices

Most antivirus companies now offer virus protection apps for keeping smartphones and tablets free of malicious code with apps for Android, iOS and Windows Mobile devices. You can use one antivirus brand on your computer and another on your mobile devices if you like.

Businesses

Many businesses, both large and small, run the risk of having their entire systems infected with viruses. This can cause the company to be unable to operate, sometimes for days at a time. It's important for businesses to make sure their computers are protected with antivirus software.

Individuals

Individuals who use computers or mobile devices to connect to the Internet at home or away from home should make sure their devices are protected from viruses. Antivirus software will help ensure that they don't have to make costly replacements to products that have been compromised.

Highly sensitive information

Some people or groups have to deal with highly sensitive information such as medical records, police files, financial information, etc. These groups need to have antivirus software that is even more secure than average users need along with the infrastructure to support the software across a large network.

Families

In addition to the needs of individuals working on home computers or mobile devices, families or households with children will need extra virus protection that monitors and filters Internet usage. This helps keep children safer while they are using the Internet and is a feature that many antivirus companies offer.