When I began my Security Research I was flooded and taken aback by the innumerable choices I had, all vying for my business. Having used computers and working with those would peddle such wares, I knew that I had to continue my research on all the vendors I found interesting as well as their numerous products so that when I was ready to move forward with a purchase, I could knowing I would get the Internet Security program that best suited my needs and not the needs of sales person.
Over time I narrowed down my list of possible purchases mainly by speaking with others who had made use of such programs as well as reading reviews online which helped considerably. What I was really after however was not just your run of the mill antivirus application but one that would provide me with solid Vulnerability Management. The spyware and malware were running rampant throughout my network and wreaked havoc on each computer within my home. Laying down their path of destruction caused many of my computers to have problems starting applications and in some instances the boot up process. It certainly doesn’t help much either when you have teenagers using the computer. My children aren’t as tech savvy as most of their friends and so they often visit questionable sites and perform downloads that allow back door programs to sneak in.
To date I have downloaded over seven applications for Desktop Security all of which have brought a bit more than the usual to the table in terms of functionality and ease of use. Currently the leader of the pack is a program I stumbled on called Blink. Blink Personal Edition is currently being offered as a Free Antivirus Software program over at the eEye website, http://www.eeye.com. I call this the little program that could because well, quite simply it does and it does it better than any other I’ve used thus far. When I use Blink I am not required to run a second or even a third antivirus application to find and eradicate threats and infections as it does it all in one fell swoop. The intrusion tools in Blink are also far more comprehensive than anything its competition offers. This was and is still a big selling point for me and since I’ve only got two more to sample before I make a final decision I’m thinking it’s going to be tough to topple Blink at such a late stage in the game.
I’ve actually come across several other programs that offer really comprehensive scans or intrusion prevention tools but therein lies the problem. They offer really great things but they only offer one or the other and many times I’ve found that this is done to entice or force you into buying a companion application to the Security Management you just purchased. At this time Blink is the only program to offer everything in one package and for free too. A number of others that looked fantastic only allowed me to view screenshots and obvious paid testimonials before asking me to pay first and be disgruntled later. Being burned in the past in scenarios like this has allowed me to keep my senses keen though and I will no longer be paying before I take it for a test run. I would encourage everyone to do the same. Purchasing PC Security Software is very similar to the purchase of a new car. What options do you want, need, and how much do you want to spend? You also have to ask yourself, do I really need all this? Once those questions are sorted out you should end up with a program that works well for you. Get works best for your needs, not the needs of anyone else and most importantly, when in doubt…ask questions.