From kids to grandparents, everyone is using computers around us. But advancement in technology also brings problems along with benefits. Problem like security is of maximum importance when it is related to your business or any personal not to be shared data. Hence the idea of antiviruses entered into picture, which helps us to make our PCs more secure and our experiences more enjoyable. Here are some top online antivirus programs to protect your computer, which you can consider if you are planning to use one.
Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2012
It is an antivirus program developed by a Romanian company called “SoftWin” which is now also considered as the digital dragon to slew all internet evil of all forms.
• It provides security against viruses, spyware and phishing attempts which include online links scanning, search advisor, PC optimizations tools, scheduling scanning and much more.
• It is the best value antivirus program which comes under $30 per personal licence.
• Simple and easy to use but laced with powerful functionality which comprise of private data detection and potential identity theft monitoring (with help of partner, IDWatchDog).
• Anti-phishing measures – It performs scan for your mails, Instant messages and downloads. It can encrypt chat conversations and as it tracks the privacy settings of social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, it helps to detect and protect your account from any malicious data sent from your friend’s accounts.
• Anti-Fraud filter – It detects scam linked websites to save you from any fake commercial or bank transaction.
• It comes in three packages, Antivirus, Internet Security and Total Security Suite.
• Heuristic real time Active Virus Control – It uses proactive ICSA-certified scanning and detection
algorithm to detect any online virus activity without compromising on system performance.
• Smart Scan – It has the capability to detect more significant applications and can schedule its own scans accordingly. Hence doesn’t interfere with your most important running apps.
• Secure gamer mode – In case you are playing games then with some settings you can prevent any security popups coming in between and hence can enjoy your game without any interruption. This is also known as Autopilot for Silent Security which provides a hassle-free experience by making optimal security-related decisions without input from you. This means no pop-ups, no alerts, nothing to configure.
• For rare security threats like rootkits breach all you need to do is reboot your system in rescue mode to clean and restore your system.
• It supports Windows 7, 8, Vista and XP.
• Installation is easy and step by step information is available.27/7 support is available.
• Free Edition – In case you don’t need advanced features, you can download BitDefender Free Edition 2012 for sufficient features to protect your PC. It also uses ICSA-certified scanning and detection algorithms like its commercial counterparts. It supports Windows 95, 98, NT – SP6, Me, 2000, and XP.
Avast Pro Antivirus 6
Avast is one of the most popular names in the antivirus market. It offers mind blowing features to protect your PC and that too just for a cost less than $40.
• Provides a combo of scanning, detection and remediation features.
• It also has reputation rating and heuristics –based sandboxing for protected online transactions.
• Cleans up the existing threats and prevent potential ones.
• Brand features: “WebRep” (It scans URL links proactively and has color-coded reputation ratings on search results URLs to indicate the safety level when visited, “SafeZone” (sandboxing virtual desktop tool; ensures the security during online shopping and bank transactions), “AutoSandbox” (Uses virtual computing environment called sandbox to identify and open malicious apps), “Security Gadget” (Tells you about the security status for Windows 7 or Vista platforms)
• It is a multilevel antivirus and prevents your PC from several angles.
• It protects the PC from spyware, rootkits, worms, Trojans, viruses and malware spread through infected email (both inbound and outbound) and instant messaging with an integrated IM shield.
• Silent game mode – When you play a game all the security tasks are done automatically without any need of your inputs. That disables pop-ups or alerts from interrupting, when you are playing.
• Databases for viruses are regularly updated.
• Heuristic algorithm is used to detect any malicious file which shows such behaviour and your PC is protected immediately.
• Efficient scanning – During new scan (after first full scan) only changed files are scanned again and hence prevent precious system resources and enhances the performance.
• Easy to use and install. It comes with a pre-installation routine.
• Online and offline support is available 24/7.
• Free Edition – Ver 6.0 is also available with decent features.
Kaspersky Antivirus 2012
From Russia this face-lifted antivirus is a good choice which comes under $40 for single and under $60 for 3 licences.
• It is a tough antivirus system but do not expect any frills or firewalls. It provides you to choose one of your choices.
• It provides shortest response time in providing security from online and offline threats.
• It provides a cloud based protection service (uses its own security network).
• File advisor feature – It provides the standards used to mar any file safe and unsafe and at the same time will let you know how many safe computers your file has visited.
• URL advisor Plugin – helps to not only flag URLs in searches but also other linked in visited sites.
• It protects your PC against rootkits and spyware on top of viruses.
• Heuristic algorithms are used for scanning. Hourly reports of scans are generated.
• It takes only about 50 MB of HDD space and just 512 RAM when active.
• Has built-in system restore feature.
• Autopilot mode is available (see game mode) but with few important pop ups.
• Installation is easy and just after rebooting your system, you can start using it.
• Works for Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Vista.
• 30-day full function trial is available for your testing.
• Easy navigation and bright colors makes it quite user friendly.
Panda Internet Security 2012
Panda pioneered to release its latest internet security product for 2012 among PC security companies.
• It provides effective protection software against malicious files, virus, spyware, phishing, spam and is equipped with a competent firewall, parental control, backup facility and identity protection on the side
• You get a suite of products like Firewall, Internet Security, and Antivirus.
• Use heuristic or “behaviour analysis” techniques based algorithms to detect threats.
• For beginners, it has a “safe browser” mode that puts a barrier or “sandboxes” web pages (virtual) so that you don’t download any suspicious malware actually on your PC.
• It can be integrated with Outlook Express and MS Outlook. But this exposes its weakness as well when it leaves your web-based email accounts in AOL, Gmail, Yahoo, Mozilla Thunderbird, and Hotmail vulnerable.
McAfee VirusScan Plus 2012
If you are looking for basic protection features like scanning, detecting, and removing threats on your PC and blocking attempts to infect with the utmost efficiency, power and efficacy with the least burden on your computing resources, then McAfee is one of the best choices. Of course this Plus mentioned in the name brings new features just at $49.
• It has protection service through several diagnostic and monitoring tools which it applies before acting as an antivirus, an anti-phishing tool, a defragmentation tool and a network monitoring tool for reputation rating.
• It has heuristic file behaviour-based engine in the McAfee’s System Guards.
• It comes with a bonus Firewall which is a full featured personal firewall that blocks all web based malicious attacks going to your PC ports.
• IM link scanning is possible and works well with AOL IM and Yahoo Messenger.
• Has “state aware” feature which is equivalent to “game mode” of other antiviruses.
• Also has “Site advisor” feature to keep a check on sites and has color based indicators for the searched sites.
• Easy to use and install.
There are many in the list; Norton Antivirus 2012 is another name which can be considered. Whatever you use; make sure you are protected properly. All I can say is; either you live in isolation or stay protected, choice if simply yours!
