Internet security suites are big business. Trial versions packed full of features come with most new Windows computers. They typically include powerful two-way firewalls, phishing filters, and cookie-scanning technology. But you don’t really need all these features.
Internet security suites aren’t useless. Their antivirus protection is generally good, and they may have a few handy features. But they’re designed to sell you features you don’t really need.
Antivirus is the Most Important Feature
The most important feature in any Internet security suite is the antivirus. An
antivirus helps protect you from malware, even malware that tries to sneak onto your machine through new security bugs in your browser or plug-ins, like Flash. Antiviruses aren’t perfect, but they are an important layer of protection for all Windows users. That’s why Microsoft included an antivirus with Windows 8.