If your business network is ever compromised, you’ll need to use a spyware removal tool, and it can be tempting to opt for a free version. There are plenty of free tools online, and they can work perfectly well. That said, there are plenty of reasons why it’s worth paying a little more for a professional program or service. It is important to bear in mind that spyware may not be the end of the issue and you could be looking at additional surveillance going on in your business/office. To see if this is true, you may want to look into how office sweeps can assist you in making sure that there is nothing else spying on you and your employees.
Here are just four.
- Poor Ongoing Support
When spyware removal tools are free, the developer isn’t as likely to keep all the software up to date. You may find that it hasn’t been updated to seek out the newest malicious programs, or that it isn’t compatible with your system. At best, the program won’t work properly, leaving you to search for an alternative. At worst, it may scan your system without actually detecting and removing the offending programs. You also might need a report on what spyware activity has taken place to make sure none of your valuable information has been stolen. This is why consulting Phone Forensic Experts, or other spyware specialists, can be much more beneficial than just using free software.
- Ads and Bloatware
Just because software is free, it doesn’t mean developers aren’t making money off it. Advertising is a common method, but this can be very inconvenient, not to mention unprofessional, for a business network. And it isn’t just ads from other businesses that might bother you. Some freeware is actually just a free trial, and you’re likely to find yourself bombarded by ads trying to persuade you to upgrade. Alternatively, a developer may make money by adding third-party programs during installation. These might not be malicious themselves, but such bloatware can slow down your devices.
- Poor Interface
Paid software almost always looks better than free software. You might be telling yourself that such things don’t matter, but that’s not always the case. Paid software interfaces will have been tested and retested to ensure that users can properly understand everything. With free software, it can be frustrating to figure everything out – in fact, free software is often aimed more at users with an IT background.
- Security Problems
Though rare, it is possible for free spyware programs to contain malicious programs of their own. This isn’t usually down to the developer. Instead, it’s due to the open-source nature of the software itself – such programs are much easier to hack than professional ones.
If you think your business network may be at risk then it’s best to contact the professionals. A dedicated IT support company will be able to provide you with trustworthy anti-spyware software as well as helping you to manage your cyber security.
