Security software - free versus paid

[Worldlife]

January Computer "Which?" endorsed advice from the "The Scream!" that free security software will do the job of similar products including in internet security packages.

Best free anti virus buys were:-

Avira AntiVir Personal Edition Classic Free (92%)

AVG Free Anti-Virus (91%)

Avast! 4 Home Edition Free (91%)

Free Firewall:-

Zone Alarm Checkpoint Free Firewall (94%)


Free Anti-Spyware

Micorsoft Windows Defender Free (80%)

Free Anti-Spam

0Spam Free (you have to register to use free product - but go back to home page to read more details before you decide to do this) 56%

Home page links (given in the original "Which?" article) often lead you to promotional pages for full priced products and you will have to look for the small print to find the free version. These precise links may change as time passes so make certain if you make your own way do not arrive at a spyware alternative with a similar name!!!!

I am testing the Kaspersky internet suite at the moment as one of the cheaper tested products and wondering if it is worthwhile having an integrated system with one update facility.

Should "Which?" have given any consideration to the fact that this product requires only 128Mb Ram and 50MB of hard disk space but other products needed 256Mb Ram and 300 MB of hard drive.