The Best Anti-virus Software for Home Use

Whether you use your home computer for playing online games or telecommuting, your computer is an investment that needs to be protected from internet viruses. Reliable anti-virus software can protect your computer around the clock without tedious updates and scans. Here is what you need to look for to find the best anti-virus software for your home and the name of the software that has all of these features.

Ease of Use

Since most people aren't tech professionals, the best in-home security software will be easy to install and easy to use. Before purchasing security software, take a look at screenshots of the software's control panel. It should look simple and have very few buttons to learn.

Autopilot Automatic Protection

Protection software should be able to work with very little tinkering. You should be able to install it and not need to manually install updates, scan your computer or check to see if a hacker has manipulated your system.

Thankfully, quality systems have a feature called Autopilot that does just that. It will allow you to pick a day and time that the software can install updates and scan your computer for viruses. After the processes are scheduled, you don't have to do anything else. The anti-virus software will work silently in the background while you go about your usual routine.

Self-defense is another term to look for when shopping. This means that the software will protect itself from unauthorized changes and will protect the home computer from being changed by outside forces.

Gamer Mode and CPU Drag

If you like to play games on your home computer, you should become acquainted with some special terms to know when shopping for security software.

There's nothing worse than being interrupted during a crucial moment in your computer game. Gamer Mode allows you to use your computer in full-screen mode without being interrupted by the security software. The software will quietly run in the background and won't minimize the screen to alert you of updates or scans.

Some security software drags down a computer's performance when scanning or downloading. This lag can be deadly to a game avatar. To avoid lag, choose software that boasts that it uses very little PC processing power.

Our Pick for the Best Anti-virus Software for Home Use

The software that we found to meet all of the above criteria for a home computer is BitDefender Antivirus Plus 2012. Not only is BitDefender Antivirus Plus 2012 easy to use, but it also has automatic protection, self-defense tools, Gamer Mode and causes very little computer drag.

BitDefender Antivirus Plus 2012 protects your computer from more than just viruses. It also guards against and eliminates Trojans, worms, spyware, malware and rootkits, giving your computer a fresh-from-the-factory feel.

While your home computer may not contain covert government information or company secrets, it is still important to you. Choosing the best security software can keep it safe for your family for years to come.

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