Is There a Downside to Using Free Security Programs?
Yes, but not so problematic a downside as to make free security programs unacceptable. You lose the convenience of a one-program-does-all security suite. And companies that don’t charge you seldom offer great tech support. (Then again, neither do some companies that do charge you. In fact, some of the biggest hassles readers report about security programs involve billing snafus.) Also, the last time PC World looked at spyware fighters (see “Die, Spyware, Die!”), the free programs performed relatively poorly. Yet if you know what you’re doing, a software combination like Comodo’s Firewall Pro, AVG’s Anti-Virus Free Edition, and SpywareBlaster will probably keep you safe. Not all free security programs can be trusted. Some are scams and amount to malware themselves. So don’t use one unless you’ve heard good things about it from a reliable source. For just such a source, consult Preston Gralla’s “15 Great, Free Security Programs.
