Without a doubt, every owner of a computer connected to the global network periodically asks the question "what is the best antivirus?" Ten years ago, the choice of a defense program was made on the basis of its prestige, cost and availability of support services.

Now, when more and more types of malicious programs appear every minute on the World Wide Web, the effectiveness of the anti-virus application naturally comes out on top. In light of this, it is not surprising that many users would like to know which antivirus is the best. After all, if you do not properly organize the protection of information, then it can be destroyed or used for criminal purposes.
We alth of alternatives
Currently, many companies offer their anti-virus software products. The task of the user is to make his choice in favor of a particular solution. In fact, it is impossible to say for sure which antivirus is the best: 2013, when there is still a struggle for the title of the most optimalsolutions, it proved once again.

Therefore, in this article we will point out some key features of these programs that directly affect efficiency. And which one to give preference to is the individual choice of each.
Selection criteria
Let's formulate the basic requirements for an abstract ideal anti-virus program:
- free distribution;
- 24/7 support;
- timely automatic updates of the core and application databases;
- full compatibility with the specified operating systems and correct work with user programs;
- flexible settings, including several modes - for ordinary and "advanced" users;
- powerful mechanism of protection against unknown threats, up to complete blocking of a suspicious program;
- additional features.
Actually, everyone who finds the answer to the above points will figure out which antivirus is the best.

Pay or save
It is commonly believed that free software solutions cannot be effective enough. While this is true in most cases, there are exceptions. For example, Antivir programs from the well-known company Avira, Antivirus from Comodo, and Antivirus Avast Free have been used by many users for several years, reliably protecting against network threats. Of course, it should not be forgotten that mostfree solutions do not contain a built-in firewall (Firewall), so you need to install it additionally for complete protection.
Nevertheless, one should not expect effective and timely user support from the producers of such programs - the priorities are still given to paid analogues. If the question is: “Which is the best antivirus - free or paid?”, Then you should still proceed from other desired parameters.
Combine Applications
One of the most convenient security solutions is a program that combines both an anti-virus engine and a firewall. In this case, all modules work as coordinated as possible. This should be taken into account when figuring out which antivirus is the best. That is, it is more preferable to choose the Internet Security program from the Kaspersky Lab than a combination of Avira Anti-Virus and Outpost firewall (we do not take into account the effectiveness of "catching" threats).
Among the combined solutions, the most famous are Kaspersky Internet Security, the famous NOD32, domestic Dr. Web Space, etc. Although they are all paid, the user is given a period for free testing.
Summing up
When choosing the best security program, you should understand that there is no panacea. The best solution is to completely isolate the computer from external information, which is not always advisable. Any anti-virus program, even the most effective one, can miss a new kind of "malware". The user can only reduce the likelihood of this by updating the databases and the kernel in a timely manner, as well as comply with safety rules when working withnetwork resources.