早在 1990 年代，您只需使用防病毒软件就可以为您的(antivirus software)Windows 计算机(Windows computer)获得足够的保护。然而，时代变了，我们面临的网络威胁也发生了变化。我们不仅要与老式病毒作斗争，还要与 rootkit、间谍软件、勒索软件、广告软件、网络攻击、网络钓鱼企图等作斗争。潜伏在互联网上的恶意软件的规模令人震惊，如今，即使是医院和五角大楼(Pentagon get)也受到恶意软件制造者的攻击。为了帮助您保持安全，安全供应商提供多种类型的产品，从简单的防病毒软件(antivirus software)到 Internet安全套件(security suite)，再到整体安全套件(security suite)。然而，其中(security software)你需要安全软件吗？如果你购买了一套完整的安全套件(security suite)，你会得到很多东西，包括“完整/终极”的安全性，但你也必须为此付出更多的钱。这值得么？您需要哪种(Which)类型的Windows安全(Windows)软件？(security software)
防病毒软件(antivirus software)必须为Windows用户提供什么？
防病毒软件不再是二十年前的简单安全工具。它们现在要复杂得多，并且提供比以前更多的保护。这是您从现代防病毒软件(antivirus software)中获得的信息：
- 防范(Protection)病毒和其他类型的恶意软件，如 rootkit、间谍软件、勒索软件、广告软件等。
- 浏览网页时提供保护，防止受感染的文件、分发恶意软件(distribute malware)的网站、恶意广告和网络钓鱼企图。
- 与 Internet 安全套件或整体安全套件相比，对计算机性能的影响较小。
- 您可以获得的安全软件(security software)最实惠的价格。防病毒软件(Antivirus software)比互联网安全套件或总安全套件便宜得多。
但是，防病毒软件不为您提供以下功能：
- 针对网络攻击的防火墙保护。
- 有用的安全工具，如家长控制、软件更新程序、VPN服务和其他类型的工具。
互联网安全套件必须提供什么？
Internet 安全(Internet security)套件是最受Windows用户欢迎的安全产品类型。它们被宣传为保护您的Windows设备免受各种威胁的最有效选择。互联网安全套件(security suite)提供防病毒软件(antivirus software)的优势，以及其他工具和功能，例如：
- 一个防火墙模块(firewall module)，可保护您免受网络攻击。
- 如果您使用Microsoft Outlook等电子邮件客户端，反垃圾邮件功能可保护您免受不需要的垃圾邮件(spam email)。
- 身份保护(Identity protection)工具。一些互联网安全套件为您提供增强隐私和在线购物和银行(online shopping and banking)等任务安全性的工具。其他帮助您生成安全密码并安全地存储它们等。
- 许多互联网安全套件包括一个家长控制模块，该模块可用于监视和控制您孩子的计算活动。
但是，购买互联网安全套件(security suite)也有缺点：
- 与基本防病毒软件(antivirus software)相比，对计算机性能(computer performance)的影响略高。但是，如果您考虑到互联网安全套件(security suite)提供的工具和保护层比标准防病毒软件(antivirus software)更多，那么拥有它是很自然的。
- 安全套件(security suite)比基本的防病毒软件(antivirus software)更昂贵。价格差异(price difference)的百分比因制造商而异。
总安全套件必须提供什么？
全面安全套件是高级安全产品，包括安全供应商(security vendor)必须提供的一切。它们始终包含 Internet 安全套件的功能和优势，并添加以下内容：
- VPN订阅。如果您想在旅行中保持安全，或者您想绕过审查和监视(censorship and surveillance)，则必须使用VPN 工具(VPN tool)。一些完整的安全套件提供对此类服务的订阅。它们通常限制为每天几百兆字节的流量，但如果您需要，可以多花几美元来补充这个数量。
- 文件加密(File encryption)工具。一些全面的安全套件提供对其用户有用的加密工具。
- 在线备份(Online backup)工具。一些安全供应商提供在线存储服务，这些服务在其整个安全套件中出售。不幸的是，这些服务提供的免费存储空间(storage space)很少，如果您需要大量空间，它们会额外收费，而且它们不一定比OneDrive、Dropbox 或 Google Drive(Dropbox or Google Drive)等流行服务更安全。
- 更多额外工具，其中一些可能有用，例如文件粉碎(file shredding)工具或防盗保护，而另一些则没有，例如检查Windows 更新(Windows Updates)或清理临时系统文件的工具。捆绑在整个安全套件中的大多数额外工具的问题在于，它们倾向于克隆现有的Windows功能，并且从(Windows)安全和隐私的角度来看(security and privacy perspective)，它们没有提供太多价值。
- 允许您使用适用于Android 或 iOS的等效(Android or iOS)安全产品(security product)的许可证。许多安全供应商提供适用于Windows、iOS 和Android的(Android)安全产品(security product)。
整体安全套件的缺点是：
- 与其他类型的安全软件(security software)相比，Windows用户的成本更高。
- 对您的计算机性能产生更显着的影响，因为它们捆绑了更多工具和功能。
- 事实上，捆绑的一些额外功能可能不会为您提供任何价值。
您应该购买哪种类型的安全软件？(security software)
我们对您的一般建议是走高点，购买包含VPN 订阅的完整(VPN subscription)安全套件(security suite)。如果总价较低，您最好购买互联网安全套件(security suite)并单独订阅优质VPN 服务(VPN service)。
我们不建议您购买更便宜的防病毒软件(antivirus software)，因为这通常还不够。防病毒软件(Antivirus software)是您可以获得的最实惠的安全类型，它对计算机性能的影响最小。但是，您获得的保护还不足以在所有情况下都有效。Internet 安全套件往往在全面保护、价格和可增强您的(Internet security)隐私和安全(privacy and security)的有用的额外工具之间提供最佳平衡。然而，VPN订阅是当今任何旅行者的必备品，并且可以绕过政府监控(government monitoring)。
你怎么看？
我们已经就您应该考虑为您的Windows(Windows)计算机和设备购买的安全软件(security software)类型提出了我们的论点。现在轮到你了：你同意我们的观点吗？你有不同的想法吗？让我们(Let)在下面的评论中开始辩论。
Should you buy an Antivirus, an Internet Security suite or a Total Security suite?
Back in the 1990's, antivirus software was all you needed to get adequate protection for your Windows computer. However, times have chаnged and so have the cybеr threats that we face. We do not have to fight onlу against old-school viruses, bυt also against rootkits, spyware, ransomware, adware, network attacks, phishing attempts and so on and so forth. The magnitude of the malware that lurks on the internet is mindblowing, and today, evеn hosрitals and the Pentagon gеt attaсked by mаlware creatorѕ. To help you stay safe, security vendors offer many typеs of products, from simple antivirus software to internet security suites to total security suites. Howeνer, which security software do you need? If you purchase a total security suitе, you are promised many things, including "complete/ultimate" security, bυt you also have to pay more money for it. Is it worth it? Which types of sеcurity sоftware for Windows do yоu need?
What does antivirus software have to offer to Windows users?
Antiviruses are no longer the simple security tools that they used to be two decades ago. They are a lot more complicated now and offer a lot more protection than they used to. Here is what you get from modern antivirus software:
- Protection against viruses and other types of malware like rootkits, spyware, ransomware, adware and so on.
- Protection when browsing the web, against infected files, websites that distribute malware, malicious ads and phishing attempts.
- A lower impact on your computer's performance, when compared to internet security suites or total security suites.
- The most affordable price that you can get for security software. Antivirus software is a lot less expensive than internet security suites or total security suites.
However, antivirus software does not offer you features like:
- Firewall protection against network attacks.
- Useful security tools like parental controls, software updaters, VPN services and other types of instruments.
What do internet security suites have to offer?
Internet security suites are the most popular type of security products for Windows users. They are advertised as being the most efficient option for securing your Windows devices against all kinds of threats. An internet security suite offers the benefits of antivirus software, along with other tools and features such as:
- A firewall module to protect you against network attacks.
- Anti-Spam features that protect you against unwanted spam email messages, if you are using email clients like Microsoft Outlook.
- Identity protection tools. Some internet security suites offer you tools that enhance your privacy and the security of tasks like online shopping and banking. Others help you generate secure passwords and securely store them, etc.
- Many internet security suites include a parental controls module that can be useful to monitor and control the computing activities of your children.
However, there are also downsides to purchasing an internet security suite:
- A slightly higher impact on computer performance compared to basic antivirus software. However, it is only natural to have that, if you take into consideration that an internet security suite offers more tools and protection layers than standard antivirus software.
- A security suite is more expensive than basic antivirus software. The percent in price difference varies between manufacturers.
What do total security suites have to offer?
Total security suites are premium security products that include everything that a security vendor has to offer. They always include the features and benefits of internet security suites, and add things like:
- VPN subscriptions. Using a VPN tool is a must if you want to be secure while traveling, or you want to get around censorship and surveillance. Some total security suites offer subscriptions to such services. They are usually limited to a few hundred megabytes of traffic per day, but that amount can be supplemented for a few dollars more if you need it.
- File encryption tools. Some total security suites offer encryption tools that can be useful to their users.
- Online backup tools. Some security vendors offer online storage services which are sold in their total security suites. Unfortunately, these services provide little free storage space, they cost extra if you need a lot of space and they are not necessarily more secure than popular services like OneDrive, Dropbox or Google Drive.
- More extra-tools, some of which may be useful, like file shredding tools or anti-theft protection, while others are not, like tools which check for Windows Updates or clean temporary system files. The problem with most of the extra tools bundled in total security suites is that they tend to clone existing Windows features and they do not offer much value from a security and privacy perspective.
- A license that allows you to use the equivalent security product for Android or iOS. Many security vendors offer security products for Windows, iOS, and Android.
The downsides of total security suites are:
- The higher costs compared to the other types of security software for Windows users.
- A more significant impact on your computer's performance, since they bundle more tools and features.
- The fact that some of the extra features that are bundled might not provide any value to you.
What type of security software should you buy?
Our general recommendation for you is to walk the higher ground and buy a total security suite that includes a VPN subscription. If the total price is lower, you might be better off with buying an internet security suite and a separate subscription to a good VPN service.
We do not recommend that you go for the cheaper antivirus software because that is often not enough. Antivirus software is the most affordable type of security you can get, and it has the lowest impact on your computer's performance. However, the protection you get is not complete enough to be effective in all situations. Internet security suites tend to offer the best balance between full protection, price, and useful extra tools that enhance your privacy and security. However, VPN subscriptions are a must have for any traveler these days, and for bypassing government monitoring.
What do you think?
We have presented our arguments regarding the type of security software that you should consider purchasing for your Windows computers and devices. Now it is your turn: do you agree with us? Do you think differently? Let's start a debate in the comments below.
