The Internet is littered with malware, viruses, trojans and other malicious pieces of software that could really ruin your day. That means it doesn’t matter if you’re a gamer or someone who uses an old family PC for browsing the web and checking email, you still need some sort of antivirus to keep yourself safe.
After all, hackers and malware programmers don’t usually discriminate.
The problem is that you need an antivirus solution that is unique to your own needs. You don’t want something heavy and overbearing on a computer that can barely handle day-to-day operations. Let’s take a look at what antivirus is best for what kind of individual.
Resources:
http://anti-virus-software-review.toptenreviews.com/
https://www.consumeraffairs.com/computers/antivirus-software/
The Average Computer User
The average computer user is someone who doesn’t do a lot of gaming, programming, 3D modeling or other tasks that involve a heavy workload on your computer. They still have a computer put together within the last three years, but they generally stick to checking their email and surfing the web with a little bit of casual gaming mixed in.
If you’re a user who fits this situation, then you’ll likely want to go with something that supports email scanning, active system protection and heuristic virus scans. The best software for you would be something like AVG Antivirus or Avast! Antivirus.
The Gamer
When you’re knee-deep in a mission or tanking for a 25-man raid, the last thing you want is an annoying pop-up or scheduled virus scan to interrupt everything. “Sorry, my antivirus did it.” is the last excuse anyone who is a serious gamer wants to hear. If you’re a gamer, you’re going to want two things from an antivirus besides protection: silence and a lightweight program.
To this end, here’s a list of antivirus software that you should consider: AVG Antivirus and Vipre. Both are considered lightweight and don’t have a loud (and annoying) notification like Avast! does.
The Grandfather PC
A very old, barely workable computer is usually referred to as a “grandfather computer.” It’s wobbly, slow, shakes and seems to be forgetful. It’s still reliable for doing light to moderate tasks like surfing the web, but it may not do everything or even be able to play DOS games. With this kind of computer, every CPU cycle and byte of RAM matters. That’s why you have to pick something lightweight.
Of all the antivirus programs out there, Vipre is likely the most lightweight program that provides an adequate amount of protection. It will stop viruses from infecting your computer while still leaving you with enough computing power to enjoy your computer’s old age.
The “Risky Business” PC User
“Don’t ask. Don’t tell.” can apply to more than just a military recruitment policy. You might reverse engineer malware, view risky websites or perform a myriad of other activities that puts you at high risk for malware infections.
If you’re a high risk user, then you’ll want something heavy duty. Bitdefender and F-Secure will keep you as safe as possible regardless of where you venture.
The Resource Frugal User
Sometimes, it isn’t about using all of those available CPU cycles. You just want a smooth computer experience while you do whatever you do.
If you’re frugal about how your PC’s resources are used, then you’ll want an antivirus like Kapersky or Panda. It’s lightweight and will use minimal resources to keep your safe.
