There're a number of important characteristics that are typical in all antivirus programs.
And then there're features which you will find in a few antivirus apps and these are inclined to be the better software programs.
On the other hand, the features you'll want will most likely be different from another user.
As an example, if you are an avid gamer, the game style feature will probably be what you need. And the same is true if you watch videos and movies on your computer. This is because interruptions such as popups, scans and upgrades will influence your gaming. So the game style will block those interruptions and just run them when your PC is idle.
Here are some attributes That You Ought to look out for when purchasing antivirus software:
Heuristic scanning - This scan is designed to catch the most recent threats. When they've been identified, your software should automatically scan your PC to test if it has been infected.
Email Addresses - Lots of threats like phishing scams are now distributed through mails.
Instant Messaging Protection - Like email, you would like to beware of phishing attacks in your IM communications.
Easy Installation - Now this one feature is the most important. Easy installation means a layman could easily install the antivirus software & use it without the support of a technical professional. Norton & Malwarebytes antivirus have this feature from the very beginning of their journey as antivirus software. Infact Norton antivirus could be easily installed using norton.com/setup as well as it has no operational glitches, even when used by children.
Why have we included it here? As you want to be certain the software you select has the best on-demand scanning feature and eliminates threats after you click that button.
Scheduled Scanning - This feature is very good for running a scan whenever your PC is idle, so it does not interrupt your activities. So that you can prevent PC slow down through scans and upgrades also.
Auto-Clean -The auto-clean feature rids your PC of viruses mechanically as it finds them. This is a reassuring feature that keeps your personal computer clean. And it removes manual cleanups by minding threats rather than quarantining them.
So these are a few of the primary qualities you must check before downloading antivirus software. They are standard in all antivirus programs, but more importantly you should check how effective they are in contrast with the competition.
Other Attributes
You will find new features that have emerged in the past couple of years, and a few anti virus programs will have them and some won't.
Look out for:
Antiphishing - This feature is intended to stop criminal attempts from stealing your private information for example your bank details, passwords, usernames etc.. This attribute is within Kaspersky and BitDefender but you won't get it in Webroot or Norton Antivirus sadly.
Notebook battery saving manner - BitDefender and Kaspersky equally have this features and Norton antivirus too. It is used to delay scans and intensive processes for afterwards in order to increase your laptop's battery life.
Link Scanner - Astonishingly, Webroot is one of the sole antivirus programs that don't incorporate this essential feature. It is an integral web tool that monitors web links and prevents you from clicking on dangerous sites.
Overview
This isn't an exhaustive list and there're many other features you should search for when looking for antivirus software.
And all antivirus programs release new features each year, so watch out for what's new and good in the industry.
Read here about - Top Antivirus Software for Windows 7 in 2019.
