Microsoft Windows 8 comes with Windows Defender, which previously was Anti-Spyware app and microsoft added few more feature additions and made it as an Antivirus software.
It does a decent job and offers basic level of security and protection to users. Windows 8 PC that is connected to Internet most of the time requires better security measures and practices from users side as well, than what Windows Defender offers.
Windows 8 compatible antivirus softwares are plenty in numbers, but not all works well as promised. Especially the free antivirus softwares. If you choose the antivirus software for windows 8 wrong, then you will end up loosing your important data, frequent system hangs and crashes, also it will make you Reinstall the operating system again and again. Here i like to share my personal user experience and some recommendation for you to help with choosing the best antivirus software for windows 8 pc.
If you don’t want to read the following texts and quickly watch what i am trying to say here, then checkout this video below.
Table of Contents
Antivirus vs Internet Security vs Total Security
There are three top security software titles available with most antivirus software manufacturer vendors today. You might be confused to choose among them and which one would be best fit for your needs. So, the primary task is understanding what you exactly need in the name of security software. Here i make the task a lot easier by breaking it down into three sub topics.
Virus free system brings faster Performance and Better Productivity
Less Internet & More Offline Works
If your Windows Desktop or Laptop connects very less to Internet and mostly stay offline for Work and Entertainment purposes, then you can get an Antivirus software for your PC. Antivirus is best fit for PCs that goes less online and whenever you connect Internet, say like few minutes a day or once in a week or month, then it can updates its Virus Signature database and protect you round the clock. Free Antivirus softwares are good, but i don’t recommend it, as i have come across plenty of security, performance issues with my clients computers. Also, there are ton’s of negative ratings and reviews across the web with every antivirus vendors. Free antivirus softwares work perfect for sometime, but not at all great for long run.
So try to invest on your PC Security software. Yearly less than $50 should be included in your budget to take care of your Windows Security. It’s not just your computer at the end of the day, its all your Personal Data, Privacy, Identity and much more. Don’t risk your security by saving few dollars.
Connected to Internet Mostly
You stay connected online mostly for your Work and other tasks? You download softwares from Torrents and Websites? An active facebook user who like and share other people posts? Get Internet Security software for your Windows 8 computer today. Because Internet Security comes with Firewall and other special utilities to protect your computer from all types of Internet attacks and threats. Firewall monitors every single packet that goes out and comes in to your computer. If there is any suspicious behavior spotted, it will immediately alert you or take action automatically based on the level of security risk.
Internet Security softwares are very advanced now a days that intelligently detects and removes any viruses, worms, malwares, spywares, adwares and suspicious codes programmed by hackers with an intention to escape the antivirus software scanning and detection.
Added to securing your Windows 8 PC, they also comes with some PC tweaking utilities to optimize windows registry, keep the system clean from junk files, temporary files left by applications that you installed and to speed up the boot process as well. When your Windows 8 stays online for long time, Antivirus will not be sufficient and that is why we get the Firewall added Internet Security software.
Laptop that needs Anti-Theft Protection
Total Security means an all-in-one antivirus software that is combination of Antivirus + Internet Security and additionally some extra tools to protect your mobile devices such as Laptops. Get Total Security if you are purchasing an Internet Security license for your Laptop specifically that runs Windows 8 operating system. It comes with Anti-Theft utility built-in that allows you to track the location (GPS) of laptop once its stolen or lost. You will be able to track the device and save hundreds of thousands with this excellent feature.
Along with the device anti-theft protection, total security softwares also feature some system utilities added to Internet Security software tools. When there is no virus, malware or adware infection to your Windows PC, it stays healthier. Tweaking the Registry settings, Optimizing the Disk, Deleting Files securely with File Shredder are some additional tools that saves you money and time. You don’t have to install multiple softwares or purchase those PC Optimization utilities separately and increase the count of applications installed in Windows 8 PC. Save the memory, storage and money by purchasing Total Security as one all-in-one application for your system.
I have personally used both Bitdefender and Kaspersky softwares. They are the best antivirus softwares for windows 8 available and rated as the best by existing users as well. Bitdefender received the award from AV-TEST Certification as the popular antivirus software for the year 2014. They both does excellent job when it comes to optimizing the PC performance as additional task. As their primary task, they guard the Windows 8 PC with high level of alert system and advanced technologies.
Other Windows 8 Compatible Antivirus softwares are Avast, AVG Antivirus, Comodo, Norton Antivirus, McAfee and few more. As i mentioned, the above recommendations are based on my user experience.
Thanks for reading and feel free to comment below if you have any questions. I will be happy to answer you. Also, don’t forget to share a word about this post with your friends and followers. They may find it useful as well, in selecting an antivirus software for their windows 8 computer. Have a wonderful productive day.
