Security software program reviews: How to buy
Security software can either be purchased on CD or downloaded from the internet.
Free software can also help to protect your PC
If you have dial-up
Boxed versions of many of the major suites can be bought from high-street retailers. This is a good option if you're on a dial-up connection, as downloading them from the internet would take too long to be practical.
If you're on broadband
Consider downloading your chosen suite from the manufacturer's website. Bear in mind that you're more likely to pay the manufacturer's full price rather than taking advantage of the reduced or special offers sometimes available from retailers.
Find out more about getting broadband with our reviews of broadband and mobile broadband services.
What you're paying for
Security software manufacturers are continually releasing updates to their programs in reaction to emerging security threats.
It's therefore vital to keep your security software up-to-date by downloading updates on a regular basis. Your software should be set to update automatically.
Generally your purchase of security software entitles you to one year's free updates. After this time you'll need to pay another year's subscription in order to keep receiving the updates.
If you have more than one computer linked to the internet at home, they'll all need to have security software installed.
In such cases it pays to choose security software that comes with licences for more than one PC.
Many suites now come with three or five licences and don't cost very much more than the single licence versions. See also our report on best laptops.
Free security software
Free programs need to be downloaded from the internet. Most are pretty easy to use but you're unlikely to get the kind of support you'd receive with a paid-for suite.
If you have problems, you may need to search the manufacturer's support pages or other online forums for assistance.