The first comment we always receive is "it looks like you are trying to sell something"… On almost a regular basis we receive emails as to why the software on our site is free. First of all, we created this website as a place for users to go to really have a more secure PC. We have been fixing computers since we were in middle school and have been extremely frustrated with the amount of viruses we have seen. Not to mention over the years these viruses and trojans have gotten even more sophisticated and can now control ones PC without the owners knowledge and even commit crimes, again unknowing to the user, and on their behalf. Given these real and evolving threats we thought it would be fantastic to start a one stop website where one can get everything to secure their PC easily and fast. Now since we don’t actually program antivirus or distribute it, we provide resources to other sites on the internet for users to quickly find what they need. We have prescreened these sites and feel that they are useful to our visitors. However, if you find a problem please feel free to let us know and we will update it accordingly. The lingering question is why would a company provide antivirus for free. Don’t they need to make a profit? First of all as hard as it is to believe, companies actually want you to have a secure PC. This is why Microsoft distributes free antivirus, ISP’s like Cox Communications provide Mcafee, and Bank of America has given away free antivirus. The fewer security incidents they have to deal with the better from their perspective. Also, a new concept that is making an impact in the antivirus industry is called the "freemium" model. "Freemium" is a combination of the word "Free" and the word "Premium". What it mean is that a company like Avast provides free and paid versions of their antivirus programs. The Free version provides the same core antivirus engine and updates as the Premium or Paid version but usually just provides antivirus protection. The Premium (maybe labeled as Internet Security) versions usually include additional functionality such as a firewall, phishing protection, wifi protection, spam, parental controls, and system tuneup capabilities. So, maybe by one using the free version for a year or so and is satisfied, Avast hopes that one will invest in a premium version with more features almost as a courtesy for providing free protection. Also, keep in mind that even though an antivirus is free, it is definitely not free to program or produce one. It takes 1000’s of programmers 100,000’s of hours to make the software not to mention taking care of all other functions of a growing fast paced business. Also keep in mind that viruses are released every couple of seconds all around the world. It takes a dedicated team of professionals 24/7 365 to monitor the situation and create virus definitions that not only work on your computer but millions of others flawlessly and accurately. Finally, programmers are people like you and need to make a living at the end of the day. And to answer the comment as to us trying to "sell" something. In way we are! We want you to download and install free antivirus to protect your computer. If our site look looked like crap (it still does in our opinion), you’d probably return to the search results and move on with your day. So,we hope that we have answered some of your questions sufficiently. If you have any other questions or comments please don’t hesitate to contact us or send us your feedback. And again, if you like this site please tell your friends and Facebook Like and Tweet about us. Thank you for your time! The Free Antivirus Help Team. |