Mediaboss Marketing

We are constantly being told that malware is a threat to our computers, laptops, smartphones, and tablets. Daily reports tell us that we have plenty to worry about. Under the umbrella of malicious software youll find all sorts of nasties sheltered away, including viruses, Trojans, adware, exploits, worms, monitoring tools, and spyware. Part of the problem is that the people talking up the threat are the very security companies trying to sell us their software.

The fact that there were 82,000 new malware strains per day in 2013, as reported by Panda Security, or that Sophos Labs found 650,000 Android malware instances isnt all that meaningful for the average user. Were mostly convinced of the need for security software on our computers and laptops at least. According to Microsofts latest Security Intelligence Report Volume 17, more than three-quarters of the worlds Internet-connected PCs have real-time security software. That percentage is much higher in the U.S. and Europe.

Related: Top 5 Android security apps,Best free antivirus software

We accept theres a threat to our devices, and we need a solution. Most of us just want to know that were protected, but do we need to pay to stay safe? Is an expensive package or a monthly subscription the only way to be sure?

No, its not. Many free solutions are just as effective as premium products. Sometimes youre paying for a raft of extra security-related features, but the basic free versions offer the safety you really need.

In some cases, the premium products do offer extra value, but its not an assumption thats safe to make without checking first. You need to do some due diligence on your prospective security app before you decide which one to choose.

Your first port of call should be AV-Test. Its an independent organization that tests security software for Windows, Mac, and mobile platforms. The testers at AV-Test bombard the apps with real-world threats and rank them based on how well they cope. Youll get a high-level overview that shows you how each security app rates for protection, performance, and usability.

Youll generally find that there are free security apps that caught 100 percent of the malware they tested. They may not score as highly in terms of performance or usability, but the protection column should always be given the most weight. Reject anything that doesnt have a 100-percent record. You can use the performance and usability results in the report to filter your list down further.

Select a handful of potential security apps, then cross check the pricing to find the best free options.

Now its time to read some detailed reviews. Try to find reviews on reputable sites and watch out for sponsored reviews. A detailed review will give you a closer look at the product with some screenshots and it should raise any additional issues you might be concerned about that the AV-Test reports didnt examine. The more sources you find that recommend your chosen product, the more confident you can be about using it.

Originally posted here:
8 useful (and free) antivirus apps to protect your Android or Windows device