Linda posted on July 13, 2009 09:08
If You Are Relying on Free Software to Protect Your Computer, You May be in for a Big Surprise!
We've all heard the saying that the best things in life are free, but I'm not sure they were referring to software. Freeware (free software, not to be confused with open source software) such as the AVG anti-virus free edition, Spybot, and Ad-Aware are all programs you can download for the ultimate discount: free. However, you need to understand that, more often than not, you get what you pay for.
While these programs may work just fine for someone's home computer, they are not business class tools and should not be trusted to completely protect your computer or network from viruses, spyware, hackers and other problems. Every month, we receive calls from clients who are infected with a nasty virus or boatload of spyware who had these programs installed and running. In every case, these clients were under the false assumption that they were protected.
Why Freeware Doesn't Protect Your Computer
In most cases, freeware is a light version of a software program that you pay for. Take the AVG free edition for example. AVG offers a free edition of their for-fee software as a way of introducing you to their fully-featured product. However, this software does not come with any online, e-mail or phone support. It is also illegal to use it on multiple machines or in a commerical, non-profit or educational environment. In other words, it is free for single home users only.
You're On Your Own
As you might expect, freeware comes with zero guarantees or promises to function correctly, to be compatible with your system, or to safeguard you from threats. You're not a paying customer so you're on your own to resolve any technical problems you encounter, and you certainly won't get support if your computer gets infected. Since many free applications are plagued with bugs and incompatibilites,you may end up with a mess on your hands and no one to blame but yourself. Additionally, freeware programs are not always current with the most up to date protection, and don't always update themselves automatically or perform scans and tasks on a regular schedule.
What's the Bottom Line?
You get what you pay for. If the files and functionality of your computer or network are of high importance, then investing in a trusted, industrial-strength software program is a smart and worthwhile investment.