AOL launches free antivirus software

AOL has officially launched free antivirus software. The product is expected to be an alternative to expensive security software.

Active Virus Shield provides basic protection against viruses, spyware and other malicious software, AOL said. People who use the Internet - not just those who subscribe to AOL's services - can download and use this software.

AOL's new security product is the result of a partnership with the renowned Russian security firm Kaspersky Lab.

In addition to antivirus software, AOL has also launched a toolbar for Internet Explorer. This toolbar has the function of notifying the security status of the system, managing passwords, blocking pop-up ads and a link to a website that contains information about suspected websites. toxic.

Active Virus Shield is compatible with Windows XP, NT, 2000, ME, and 98. System requirements require a minimum of 50MB of hard drive and Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher. Users can download the software here.

Not completely free?

Active Virus Shield will not only be a free security product but will also be an alternative to similar but not free products from other brands such as Symantec, McAfee and Microsoft.

However, to be able to use Active Virus Shield for free, users must agree to let AOL and its partners provide advertising directly in the software. "The condition for using free software is that you must agree to receive promotional promotional messages from us or partners." (Quote the agreement to use with users in the software)

Not only that Active Virus Shield also collects a lot of user information for advertising purposes such as email address, user status, user response to advertisements, details about PC .

As a result, users must pay a fee for using AOL's software with some of their personal information. That price is not cheap at all. In other words, AOL's software is not free. Free is just a manufacturer's trick to attract users because psychology doesn't like to pay, while producers make profit based on the accompanying advertising.

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