How to Select the Best Computer Security Software in 6 Steps

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How to Select the Best Computer Security Software in 6 Steps

Jun 7, 2021

You can’t afford to leave your business PCs without adequate protection anymore. Hacking incidents have been on the increase and have skyrocketed due to COVID-19. In 2020, there at least 3,950 confirmed data breaches. That’s why you must have the best computer security software to keep intruders and hackers away from your business data. However, with many antivirus software in the market, how do you know which one to choose? Fortunately, you can discover the best one for your business by following these simple tips.

1. Choose a Product With Superior Malware Detection

You need antivirus software that will detect more than 96% of existing or new malware. Labs like AV-Comparatives reveal Norton, Kaspersky, Bitdefender, and Trend Micro offer the best detection for Windows, Android, and macOS. Avast and AVG follow closely after them.

Most of these brands have free products, but the paid versions provide additional features. For instance, you can get a browser for secure surfing, ransomware protection, and password management in the paid versions.

2. Check the System Footprint

Antivirus software must run persistently in the computer’s memory and use CPU resources to perform malware detection. That means your machine will run slower with an antivirus product installed.

While the software runs in the background or during active scans for malware, there will be a significant load on the PC. This is particularly true for machines with a large number of files and applications installed.

3. Experiment Before You Pay

Many paid versions of antivirus software on Windows and Mac will allow you to test them for a month. Use the 30 days trial period to examine the user interface, observe the effect on system efficiency.

Go into the settings and tweak as much as possible to determine if the software will be worth paying for.

Also, you must be aware that most antivirus brands for Windows come to win at least three different models.

So, check the feature list and avoid paying for what you don’t need.

4. Look for Web Browsing and Email Protection

Your security software should screen email attachments and examine websites before you open them. Most of the popular antivirus products do this. Avast, AVG, and Bitdefender have free versions that do this. However, this could significantly impact browsing speed, so you need to try them out and observe any difference in site loading speed.

5. Consult a PC Security Expert

If you are looking for an anti-malware solution for a single laptop, you may not worry about this step. But if you have to secure half a dozen or more PCs that will contain sensitive business data, you need to get expert advice.

Now that your business will be using many cloud-based and mobile applications, you need a comprehensive security strategy. You have to go beyond using the best PC security software to securing your entire IT infrastructure on-premise and in the cloud.

Get Expert Help for Your Computer Security Software Selection and Management

Connect with an experienced managed IT partner that can help you prevent cyberattacks and keep your systems safe and secure. Contact Garden State Computing to learn more about computer security software at 973-636-7350 today.

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