As a business leader, you’re always looking for ways to boost revenue, cut costs, and grow your bottom line. While AI tools, shopping services, and operational efficiency are great strategies, one area you shouldn’t skimp on is your cybersecurity. Using free antivirus or firewall software is a risky shortcut.
In today’s blog, we’ll explain why relying on these free software solutions can harm your business and why a quick 10-minute call with our team might be your best investment this year.
Free software often lacks crucial features and is limited in detection capabilities.
Free antivirus and firewall solutions may protect against some known threats, but they fall short against comprehensive threats like malicious files and unidentified attacks. Cybercriminals are constantly developing new viruses, and infrequently updated free antivirus software can’t offer the protection needed to keep your business secure.
There’s no such thing as a free lunch.
While free cybersecurity solutions might seem like a money-saver, they come with hidden costs. These programs often make money through ads, sponsored recommendations, and selling user data. Your personal information, such as age, gender, and installed apps, is collected and sold to third-party advertisers.
Some free solutions come with pre-installed malware.
Ironically, some free cybersecurity tools are already infected with malware, designed to compromise your system upon installation. It can be hard to distinguish between legitimate free software and fake ones created by hackers to lure unsuspecting business owners into downloading infected versions that expose their networks.
Free antivirus software is mostly reactive, detecting infections after they occur.
The goal of cybersecurity solutions is to prevent data breaches from happening. Most free solutions are reactive, alerting you only after an intruder has breached your network. If you choose to use a free solution, ensure you have a robust recovery plan, as you’ll likely need it.
Cybersecurity solutions are more affordable than you might think and far less costly than dealing with a data breach. If you’re using free antivirus or firewall software in your organization, it’s time to upgrade. Our cybersecurity experts offer a FREE Security Risk Assessment to identify vulnerabilities and recommend solutions. Schedule yours by clicking here or calling us at (312) 767-1250