Antivirus makers promoting Suites

Antivirus has been a necessity for a computer since the days of floppies. Earlier it was just good enough to run a scan on any new floppy to be used in the computer. Than came networks and it became necessary to run antivirus software in the background checking files on the fly. And with the advancement of internet networks, a computer connected to any other machine on a network without any antivirus is UNSAFE.

Not even that… today a computer is not safe without additional tools like a firewall and anti-spyware agents. The result is that multiple applications are required to run together to keep the computer safe. And this is what getting the security application software companies to promote their suites instead of standalone applications.

Symantec is promoting its Norton SystemWorks over Norton Antivirus with cheaper upgrade options. So is McAfee with their Internet Security Suite against VirusScan package. Users get more tools for better protection for minor increase in costs. And they pay less for future updates. Competition from primary anti-virus makers have prompted firewall maker ZoneAlarm to release newer tools incorporating anti-virus tools to its firewall packages.

So, if you are tired of buying separate packages for all these functions… maybe it is time to look into an integrated solution. For lovers of free softwares, a combo of a free firewall and a free antivirus still manages to work fine! It boils down to convenience.