TECH CORNER
“ SAVINGS ”
THAT COULD COST YOU
Everything
BY RUSSELL QUINN
As a business leader , you ’ re always looking for ways to increase revenue , cut expenses , and grow your bottom line . Implementing AI tools , shopping services , and running a more efficient operation are great ways to do that . One place you do not want to cut corners is using free antivirus or firewall software .
FREE SOFTWARE OFTEN LACKS NECESSARY FEATURES AND IS LIMITED IN WHAT IT CAN DETECT .
Free antivirus software and firewall solutions can protect your business against some known viruses but not all of them , and they likely won ’ t have the ability to protect you against other comprehensive threats like malicious files , unknown or unidentified threats , and more . Cybercriminals are constantly rolling out new and “ improved ” viruses to trick even the most robust security solutions , which makes it difficult to believe that free , infrequently updated antivirus solutions could offer the level of protection needed to keep you secure .
THERE ’ S NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH .
While free cybersecurity solutions sound like a good way to save money , it ’ s important to consider how these programs generate revenue . The most common methods include ads , sponsored recommendations , and collecting and selling your personal information — like age and gender and installed apps — to third-party advertisers .
SOME FREE SOLUTIONS ARE ALREADY INFECTED WITH MALWARE .
Ironically , these free cybersecurity tools can come with malware already installed to infect your computer upon downloading them . It ’ s also difficult to determine the difference between real free software solutions and fake ones created by hackers looking to trick unsuspecting business owners who hope to save money by downloading an infected version that immediately opens up your network to them .
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