By Lawrence Durant

CMPT235 Senior Seminar
Computer Technology

Choosing the right antivirus software can be a confusing and daunting issue, one that can make you want to “shelve” the idea until later. What can lead one to put off free or purchased software? The vast choices of products out there for software and what they actually do. The choice of software always comes down to two questions. The first is whether one can afford the software, and secondly, if one wants to purchase the software. However waiting to install an antivirus program can have dire consequences. Those consequences could range from a system that is totally annihilated, to a system that has merely an annoying “prankster’s package.” Regardless, to wait can cause a user a great deal of grief, so it is best never to put off.

There are many antivirus programs for purchase to choose from. There will always be the well, known and established McAfee Anti-Virus. Then there are the other three major products of Kaspersky, Bit-Defender, and Norton. These “purchase products,” while very effective in protection from viruses and malware are a burden on a college student’s budget. There is a vast field of free antivirus products out there and this field of free products, provides an acceptable level of protection from potential threats that exist.

The field of free antivirus products that provide an acceptable level of protection are Avira, avast!, AVG, and Bit-Defender (Free Version). These free antivirus software programs can potentially provide an acceptable level of protection to the college student. According to “PC Magazine” and their “The Best Antivirus 2014-04 Lab Results Chart,” it is Bit-Defender (Free Version) that has the potential to adequately protect the user from viruses and malware. Bit-Defender (Free Version) is the best free product that the user can have for protection from viruses and malware. Bit-Defender (Free Version) is the antivirus software that I use on my computers.

I have used other free antivirus software programs in the past, but they have never proven as reliable as Bit-Defender (Free Version). My experience with other free software has always proven to be cumbersome and awkward. I have also used name brand software that has had their own issues. Those issues were errors, false-positives, and not so “user friendly” interfaces. In this instance it is the simplicity of Bit-Defender (Free Version), and that is very beneficial for antivirus protection. This affective software has the reliability of the major brands, is free, and without the fancy bells and whistles.
I use Bit-Defender (Free Version), because of several factors. I use this software because of its discreet and low-profile performance as a program. Another factor that has me recommending Bit-Defender is its reliability to run in the background as an antivirus, that doesn’t require me to tell it what to do. However if I chose to set-up when this program runs, it is always as an option. Also I use Bit-Defender (Free Version), because of its simplicity. Because I use this antivirus software, I can say in my opinion that, this is the best free antivirus software as an option for protection.

A long term ambition I have after attaining my degree in Computer Technology is to work in web development. I enjoy all aspects of web development and problem solving that is involved with it. I especially enjoy the creativity and design layout that are critical to web development.

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