Free anti-virus software does the job, experts say
To buy or not to buy? That is the question. When it comes to anti-virus software for your computer, most experts agree you need it if you have the Windows operating system and often go online, where dangers lurk.
But name-brand software could set you back $40 to $70 or more a year. Alternatively, some excellent products are available for free. What's a prudent consumer to do?
The short answer is that if you refuse to pay for computer protection software, at least use a free product in lieu of nothing. On that, experts agree. Beyond that, it's difficult to generalize with so many products available. But the difference basically comes down to this: Free software will help you discover a problem, such as a virus, and deal with it.
