Free Antivirus vs Paid Antivirus Software: Which Should You Choose?
It’s the age old question, at least for as long as there have been computer systems. Do I opt for a free software program, or do I pay for one? The answer is, of course, that it depends on the user and the application. If you’re a small or medium-sized business (SMB) that’s investigating antivirus solutions, there are a few key factors that should be considered. In this article, we’ll address those factors to help you make your decision.
Why Choose Paid Antivirus Software Solutions over Free Antivirus Software Solutions
If you’re an individual using a home computer for personal or family use, you may find readily available free software that will satisfy all your cybersecurity requirements. But if you use that computer to process financial transactions or store sensitive information, you may want to pay for programs that provide more and better protection than their free counterparts.
If you’re a small business, you have additional factors to consider. As a business, you are a more attractive target for cybercriminals. You have to protect not only your information, but also your clients’ and third-party partners’ information. You need to guard against business disruption and you need to consider what effect a breach would have on your organization’s reputation.
Don’t think you are safe from an attack because you are small. SMBs have high-value data just like large businesses, including customer credit card data, credentials, and personal records, and they are vulnerable to threats such as ransomware and data scraping. Cybercriminals have been increasing attacks on SMBs because they know that many do not have the resources or the sophisticated cyber defenses that large companies have in place.
In 2023, 41% of small businesses were victims of a cyberattack, an increase of 38% over 2022. Ransomware attacks are on the rise with phishing, unpatched servers, and credential theft as the primary attack vectors. And it’s estimated that 90% of cyber breaches worldwide occurred in small businesses. For businesses, having an effective antivirus solution in place is mandatory.
SMS Cybersecurity Issues
Cybercriminals are well aware of the issues faced by SMBs. Most SMB owners know that having a strong cybersecurity posture is key to the viability of their business. But, SMBs typically face challenges that large businesses can handle more easily. Chief among these challenges is limited resources. SMBs typically don’t have large budgets to spend on robust cybersecurity solutions. They may opt for a free or minimum-requirement solution rather than one that provides the protection they need. This problem is magnified when cybersecurity responsibilities are handed to an already-overburdened IT staff that may not have expertise in security tools and processes. It is not unusual for equipment and software updates to fall behind in the rush to complete other priorities, leaving the business exposed to potential vulnerabilities.
Time is another issue. SMB owners and senior managers have their hands full simply running the business. They don’t devote enough time to creating comprehensive security processes and incident recovery plans, or making sure that all staff are trained in recognizing cybersecurity threats like phishing attacks and social engineering.
What Is Antivirus Software?
Before trying to decide if free virus protection is good enough for your organization, it’s important to know exactly what constitutes an antivirus solution. Antivirus programs protect computer systems from malicious software, also known as malware, which includes viruses, worms, trojans, and spyware. They work by scanning files and monitoring systems for the signs of known threats and, if detected, removing or quarantining them. As you can imagine, with the variety of computer systems, programs, networks, cloud options, and processing requirements, there are many ways in which this protection can be provided.
Is a Free version of Antivirus Enough?
Free versions of antivirus programs offer basic protection for computers. The core features common to all free programs include blocking of suspicious files before they can be installed or accessed, warning of attempts to visit suspicious websites, scanning of installed files and applications for infections, removing infected files or providing remediation suggestions, and identifying when an unrecognized device is using the network. These features may be sufficient for personal use, but SMBs should examine their requirements to determine if free antivirus protection is enough for them.
Is Paid Antivirus Better Than Free Antivirus?
Better is a relative and somewhat subjective term. The question you should ask is, “Does a free antivirus solution satisfy my requirements, or is paid antivirus more appropriate for my needs?” Paid antivirus programs are different from free antivirus programs in that they usually provide more comprehensive and feature rich protection.
In addition to the features provided by free programs, paid antivirus programs provide advanced features and layers of protection that may be required for protecting your business. Advanced security features may use machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance detection. They may also provide protection for previously-unknown as well as known threats and can do it proactively, before threats occur. Paid antivirus software companies have dedicated customer service departments and many provide 24/7 remediation assistance. The more comprehensive and feature-rich offerings of paid antivirus solutions are important considerations for any business making the free antivirus vs. paid antivirus decision.
Risks of Free Antivirus Software
One of the biggest drawbacks of free antivirus software is that it provides protection only for known threats. Because they use signatures associated with specific malware types, attackers are constantly looking for ways to get around signature detection.
Another drawback is the reactive nature of the protection. The program only alerts you when it detects a signature in its database, or after it detects an infection. Scans that check for infections can take up a substantial portion of RAM and compute power which can make computers hard to use. Customer support can be an issue, too, as it is often limited to FAQs and online troubleshooting guides. What’s more, some free antivirus programs collect customer data and online behavior to use or sell to third parties. And some have even installed what could be considered spyware.
Factors to Consider When Selecting Free vs Paid Antivirus
Every business has unique vulnerabilities, and the first line of defense against an attacker exploiting them is reliable antivirus software. To help you determine whether a free version of antivirus is enough for your business, or if you need to go with a paid antivirus solution, consider these five factors.
1. Budget
Take a good look at your financial resources to determine if you can afford paid software. What is the projected cost of a breach? How will you suffer financially? What hit will you take to your reputation? Does the cost of a paid solution outweigh the cost of a breach?
2. Features
What are the risks your business faces? What are the most likely attack vectors? Will free antivirus provide protection against these risks? Will your chosen solution support all your systems and endpoints? Is the product licensed for business use and geared to a business of your size? If you have regulatory requirements, will it help you achieve compliance?
3. Support
How will the antivirus provider support you if there is an issue? Will it provide assistance if there is a breach? Does it offer any guarantees or warranties if a breach occurs when the software was properly deployed and used?
4. Product Reviews and Analyst Ratings
There are a lot of antivirus solutions available on the market, both free and paid. Check out analyst and impartial reviews. Take customer reviews with a grain of salt as they could be fake or paid for.
5. Advertisements and Upgrade Requests
Does the free antivirus software have annoying ads or constant requests for upgrades? Does the installation try to include additional programs?
Benefits of Paid Antivirus Software
Beyond having more comprehensive features, there are important business benefits associated with paid antivirus solutions.
- Proactive: Being more proactive means that you can take corrective action before an infection or breach occurs, rather than needing to disrupt normal business processes to remediate afterward.
- Better support: Dedicated support and customer service means faster resolution of issues and less vulnerability to the business.
- Easier regulatory compliance: More robust protection makes it easier to comply with regulations that mandate the protection and security of customer data.
- Reduced risk: More comprehensive protection against unknown as well as known threats, real-time scanning, and advanced detection techniques reduces the risk of a breach.
- Better user experience: No ads or constant request to upgrade provides a better user experience.
Protect Your Business Today
SMBs around the globe have turned to SentinelOne Singularity™ Control to proactively resolve modern threats at machine speed. Request a free 30-day trial to see how SentinelOne can help you protect your business against every kind of threat, including ransomware and malware.
