Software worth paying for

But is it really worth paying for antivirus software? Paid apps often provide the likes of anti-spam filters to keep your email inbox free of nonsense or malicious messages, and anti-phishing protection to keep you safe on the web, and these can be key elements when it comes to staying secure online.

Indeed, these kind of layers of defense can be even more vital for less tech-savvy users, who may not be able to guard themselves against some of the well-constructed phishing threats around, or other scams built around social engineering.

These vulnerable users will especially benefit from the extra security offered by a paid app. Those with families will also find that premium antivirus offerings usually integrate some manner of parental controls, and these will be very useful for helping to keep the kids safe online. Check out our guide to the best VPNs if you want to dig deeper. These programs give video enthusiasts some extraordinary tools, each with a different focus.

Plex DVR revolves around recording and streaming over-the-air television broadcasts, then distributing the video to your various devices. PowerDVD 20 Ultra , on the other hand, reigns supreme as a high-quality video player. You can get by pretty well with free antivirus solutions , which rely on the same underlying protection as their paid-for siblings.

The Windows Security app built into Windows 10 delivers solid protection as well. But free antivirus is very basic, offering few helpful features beyond simple scanning, and usually no customer support whatsoever. Paying for antivirus gets you a fully backed, more comprehensive security solution that protects you against much more than just malware. Features like browser protection, email protection, and phishing protection come standard in premium antivirus suites, often bundled with extras like password managers and cloud storage.

That alone is worth a premium for many people. When you use ExpressVPN, it will block your IP address, keep your browsing private, and protect you from internet providers tracking your browsing history. ExpressVPN is something you need on your computer, laptop, tablet, and phone — as the benefits of this software are certainly worth the investment.

Using a weak, easy to remember password can be convenient for your login needs, but it puts your personal information at risk and leaves you vulnerable to attacks by scammers and hackers. You can let a password manager like RoboForm do the work for you. RoboForm securely stores all of your passwords and logs you in with a single tap or click and allows you to AutoFill personal and billing information for long web forms. In fact, the FBI has noted a steep rise in cybercrime reports since the start of the pandemic.

These threats are well documented, which has led many people to take basic measures like employing a credit monitoring service to make sure nothing suspicious pops up on their reports. You need to invest in a program like Identity Guard, too, which is the most powerful identity theft protection service available. And, it costs a fraction of what the other guys charge.

What makes Identity Guard worth the money? Paid antivirus software solutions often have a lot to offer. Many services feature not only the latest threat protection and excellent customer support, but defence against hackers, viruses, spyware and malware, as well as safeguarding your identity and online transactions.

When you subscribe to a service like Norton Security you get protection for up to five devices, whether you have a smartphone, tablet, laptop or PC. You can also monitor and control your level of protection from an easy to use interface. It is popularly believed that paid antivirus is for people who use their devices for more complex and high-end tasks.

However, cybercriminals are not just only eyeing up your PC any more.