Frequently Asked Questions about Antivirus Software
- Can I replace my default antivirus software?
- Why don't you review all antivirus software on the market?
- I'm having problems with my purchase / download / installation. What do I do?
- What's the difference between enterprise / business antivirus and "consumer" antivirus?
- What's the difference between antivirus software and an Internet security suite?
Can I replace my default antivirus software?
The trial-offer antivirus software that's installed with most new computers is usually just there because Dell, HP, IBM, Lenovo, or any other computer company has a deal with that particular company maker to distribute their software.
These companies usually pick something that they think will be universally acceptable for their customers, but make no mistake it's there also because the PC maker gets a cut of the purchase price when you purchase their software.
And as we've seen, everybody has their own individual PC protection needs so one size seldom fits all.
If you're not happy with your default antivirus software, you can easily uninstall the antivirus software that came with your PC and install
new
Antivirus Software or
Internet Security Software.
The bottom line is, you're in no way stuck with the default antivirus software if you don't like it. Just because Dell or HP chose it for distribution doesn't mean it's the best software for you.
Why don't you review all
antivirus software on the market?
While it's true there are tons of different antivirus programs on the market today to review, we've chosen to focus on the best-known, top-performing antivirus software we feel is used by the majority
of people and has the highest potential for success.
We also regularly test and filter out many antivirus software that is not up to par with our standards for review. (Put another way, why should we spend our time writing reviews of terrible software?)
I'm having problems with my
purchase / download / installation.
What do I do?
First try to contact the makers of the software you purchased. They'll be able to help you the fastest and most directly.
If you still can't resolve your problem after contacting them, please
contact us and we'll do everything we can to resolve your issue.
We have great relationships with each of the companies and believe everyone deserves satisfactory service.
What's the difference between
enterprise / business antivirus and
"consumer" antivirus?
There are three primary differences:
1. central management
True enterprise antivirus software always has a central management interface.
This interface means one person can sit at their desk and manage the antivirus software on all PCs in their organization.
In contrast, consumer-grade antivirus (with very few exceptions) has to be managed at each PC.
2. technical support
When businesses purchase antivirus software, as with many things, they purchase large quantities. Large quantities mean businesses are more lucrative customers than individual users.
As a result, many antivirus makers give different tech support levels than consumers get. Sometimes it means 24x7x365 support; other times its a different extension; and others still it means technical
support requests are handled more quickly.
3. price
Pricing for businesses with enterprise antivirus software is typically
slightly higher for small companies (i.e. those with fewer than 10 PCs that need software), and for larger companies (i.e.
those with 25 or more PCs), the pricing can actually be less than the consumer-grade software.
Regardless of price differences, the central management and technical support offerings make enterprise antivirus software a
very smart choice for businesses.
If you're interested in getting a quote on enterprise antivirus software, please
contact us. We'll help you figure out which software is best for
your company, school, or non-profit organization and help you get a great price, too.
What's the difference between
antivirus software and
an Internet security suite?
While definitely not universal, there are a handful of key differences that are found in most Internet Security Suites or "Premium" versions:
1. software firewall
A couple of products that we review (specifically Panda Antivirus and McAfee Virus Scan) come with built-in firewall software; however, that's
definitely the exception and not the rule.
For the most part, you'll need to opt for the Internet Security Software or "Premium" version of most antivirus software to get security software with a built-in firewall.
Generally speaking, the price difference between the entry level software and the Internet Security Suite is negligible and ranges between $10 and $20.
Given that that's the yearly difference in price, we feel it's well worth the small extra cost since a software firewall can help prevent threats from ever getting to your PC to begin with.
2. antiphishing / URL filtering
As hard as the bad guys are trying to get to your personal data, having added protection from your Internet security software against these threats is a good idea.
Often the upgrade to the "Premium" antivirus software includes additional protection against suspicious URLs and will warn you if you're going to a site that looks legit but is far from it.
It's extremely easy to make a web site look and feel just like your bank; the antiphishing filters can help ensure that your personal information stays private and that you don't get duped.
3. spam filtering
A very common benefit you'll find in Internet security software is the inclusion of spam filters.
As with everything in our reviews, we rate the performance of the antivirus programs at handling spam; while some
are hard to use and/or barely make a dent on spam others are excellent add-ons and can really help cut down on the spam in your inbox.
4. parental controls
While it's not something every PC needs, parental controls can be very handy.
If you've got youngsters in your house, there's no substitute for dedicated parental control software, but the family filters we're seeing in the latest batch of antivirus software are better than ever, so it might be
worth considering.
