Follow These Guidelines For Home PC Security Software

Tips For Choosing The Best Home PC Security Software

When turning to protection from those online risks, who wouldn't want the BEST home pc security software protection at the price they can afford? And if it's free, even better!

In this section you'll be picking up tips to steer you away from poor choices and move you towards the best, most effective computer protection categories.

For those of you who just want to jump straight to the best home pc security software recommendations for specific risks, then click on the relevant button on the navigation bar to the left.

Home PC Security Software Tip 1...
"Protection Software Is Not Created Equal"

There are quite a few home and home office users who think, for example, that any antivirus or firewall software will 'do the job' of protecting their computers from viruses and crackers.

Others may believe that just because a new computer comes with some trial protection already installed, then it must be the 'best', rather than it being a free deal for the computer vendor... the software manufacturer then profits from the subscription once the trial has ended.

Unfortunately for the consumer, it's a fact that not all software to guard privacy and online security performs equally... some software stands head and shoulders above its competitors, providing you with enhanced protection and safety and, usually, at the same cost.

So, how does a consumer find out what is the best home pc security software?

Well, fortunately for us, there are independent testing and certification bodies that compare protection software against stringent standards and report the results. Some examples are AV Comparatives, ICSA Labs, Checkmark and Virus Bulletin.

Professional computer journals will also contract these organizations to test software and then report the results and recommendations in their technical journals.

But you don't have to trawl through this information... I do this for you and combine this information with my own testing results, to produce the recommendations you'll find for each of the Internet threats you face.

All you have to do is click on the button for a particular risk on the navigation bar and you'll have information on the risk, how it can affect you and what the current best home pc security software.

Home PC Security Software Tip 2...
"Freeware - You Get What You Pay For"

When looking for the best computer protection, in the majority of cases commercial programs outperform free software (freeware).

This is usually because commercial companies have the resources for ongoing development, improvements and fast updates... not usually available on that scale to the individual developer or small company offering its products for free.

Some commercial vendors offer free, cut-down programs in the hope that you will eventually upgrade to their pay software. This free software lacks one or more of the commercial features -- usually support and automatic updates. So, although it works as well as the pay version initially, without updates it will not deal effectively with the latest threats.

Besides lackluster performance, there can also be privacy and security risks with freeware. Freeware is often bundled with adware, or sometimes malicious spyware, as this is one way for the developer to make a return without commercialising the product. So, beware of freeware not offered by reputable companies.

It's not all glum news, however. There are independent developers who generously make home pc security software available as freeware, without being bundled with malware. You'll find as you go through this site that in most categories of risk, I include links to freeware that I consider to be reliable.

Where freeware adds value in achieving the best home pc security software and it is safe and reliable, I provide the links so the program can be downloaded.

Home PC Security Software Tip 3...
"Are The Big Brand Names The Best?"

Simply, the answer is that a big marketing spend is not a guarantee of top product effectiveness and ease of use.

For instance, in independent tests by AV Comparatives, Symantec's Norton Anti-Virus is outperformed by Kaspersky Anti-Virus Personal. Now, you may have heard of Norton, but have you heard of Kaspersky?

Within this site, a good proportion of the recommendations you read about are not from major vendors... but, in independent tests, they are the most effective!

Home PC Security Software Tip 4...
"Privacy Security Suites"

Security and Privacy Suites bundle into one package some or all of the Internet privacy and security tools. They are an attractive proposition, in that we only have to manage one package for all our protection.

However, none of the suites I have researched and tested protect all vulnerable areas to the level of the best stand-alone programs.

This view was also expressed in a PC World article...

"Upgrading to a security suite may not be the best course for most people. We've discovered that such suites generally offer inferior protection to that provided by best-of-breed, stand-alone applications."

When you are accessing the Internet frequently, I strongly recommend you go for stand-alone programs for the best home pc security software. The best software for each group of risks is clearly shown in the articles here.

This doesn't mean you end up running dozens of stand-alone programs. Generally, four programs will cover off most people's security and privacy requirements and this is explained in 'Critical Protection'

However, if the cost or convenience of having most of your Internet privacy security control on one panel outweighs installing the best separates, there is one suite which I would recommend, with two reservations -- ZoneAlarm Security Suite.

My reason for recommending this suite is because it packs two of the essential pieces of best stand-alone protection... Zone Alarm Pro Firewall and

In addition, it includes web bug, ad and pop-up blocking, anti-spyware, spam blocking, e-mail security, a personal vault, phishing/fraud/ID theft protection and basic child Internet security... excellent value for home pc security software.

My two reservations are that you'll have to augment the antispyware with my recommendations in Spyware Remover Evaluation Of Popular AntiSpyware Programs and the spam filtering with my recommendations in The Best Spam Slammers To Protect You From Spam Dangers

My advice for the best computer protection? Until these suites start providing us with best-of-breed components, install the stand-alone programs recommended throughout the articles to guard privacy and online security.