Prioritize real-time protection. Look for a trial that actively scans for threats as they emerge, not just when you manually initiate a scan. This proactive approach is key to preventing infections.
Check the malware detection rate. Independent testing labs like AV-Comparatives and AV-Test publish results. Use these reports to compare the effectiveness of different antivirus products before committing to a trial.
System Performance Impact
A good antivirus shouldn’t cripple your system. Observe your computer’s speed and resource usage during the trial. High CPU or RAM usage indicates a potentially resource-intensive program.
Features to Scrutinize
Assess features beyond basic malware detection. Consider features such as: web protection (blocking malicious websites), phishing protection (identifying fraudulent emails), and ransomware protection (preventing file encryption attacks).
Trial Length and Limitations
Note the trial’s duration. A longer trial allows for a more thorough evaluation. Also, review any limitations. Does the trial offer the full feature set, or are some features restricted?
| Real-time Protection | High | Observe active scanning during the trial |
| Independent Test Results | High | Check AV-Comparatives and AV-Test reports |
| System Resource Usage | Medium | Monitor CPU and RAM usage |
| Web & Phishing Protection | Medium | Test browsing and email handling |
| Ransomware Protection | High | Check for this feature in the product description |
Customer Support
Test the responsiveness of customer support. Encountering a problem during the trial provides a valuable opportunity to gauge the support quality.
