These days computer security application have become a necessity rather than an option, right from novices to professionals. However with presence of so many anti-virus cum security suites, it has become difficult to choose a good security solution.

So here are a few pointer you should be looking for :

1. Many companies start out with a single type of product say an anti-virus or a firewall. And then expand the range of their products to an entire security suite. But essentially they all rely on their brand image to make people believe in efficiency of their newly added products.

Bottom-line: Always choose individual products, wherever possible over security suite, because
Each company is good at some and scores moderately with other product. However, it can so happen that your favorite security product may not be compatible with another security product, and in that case you don’t have much choice.

2. Past History: review the past history of product, at least in that last 1-2 years. Its normal for some products to have small bugs, but sometimes some them are never rectified. Talk with your friends and ask in forums, if you are a member of any them, to actually get to know from someone who is actually using the product in question.

3. Try out the trial version: Coming back to the compatibility issue again, sometimes antivirus products have issues with non-security applications too. So you might not be able to execute your job’s mission application. If you try out a trial of the product which you intend to use, you can get an idea of how the product suits you. Moreover since most vendors offer the ability to upgrade trials to full versions, you need not have to re-install the application again.

4. Don’t rely on online reviews: There are umpteen number of online anti-virus – firewall – anti-spyware reviews and all of them with varying results. Don’t believe all of them. Most of them only provide a chart of features as results from which you may not able to gather the actual advantage/disadvantage. If they offer an explanation / review for every application tested, you may want to go through them.

5. Free or paid : The choice really depends upon you and also on the application of your choice. But free applications are known to be as good as paid applications, no strings attached.