When it comes to computers, there is little that everyone can agree on – apart from the need for good antivirus software.
Indeed, that is not always clear cut as there are fans of free antivirus downloads and those who pay for their programs.
The schools of thought go like this: “why pay for something you can get for free”, versus “why take a risk just to save a few pounds”.
There are those who firmly believe that there is no way a company will produce a free product that is 100 per cent effective, or else they would drive themselves out of business.
But some companies do produce both free and paid-for versions of their antivirus programs, for various reasons.
For one thing, free titles such as Kaspersky free antivirus trials may be time-limited trials. Perhaps the software will only last for a month, or maybe as long as a year, but then you can’t extend your subscription unless you pay. The theory here is that if a company can prove in 12 months just how reliable that piece of software is, they’ll be able to demonstrate that the customer really can’t do without it in the future.
Also, there are products that are free because they lack some of the more sophisticated features of the paid-for versions. This is very common, because it gives customers the chance to assess their needs before deciding which program is most suitable.
For example, anyone surfing just occasionally and never downloading any music or video from the internet might be able to find a free product that is absolutely ideal for them.
On the other hand, there are many millions of people around the world who rely on the internet for all their entertainment titles and who also use their laptops for business. These people, who might possibly face financial or communication problems if their hard-drive was ever destroyed by a virus, would do well to consider buying the best software they can afford.