Most of us want to save a dime whenever we can and in this economy, who can blame us. Unfortunately, if you try to skimp when shopping for Internet security software, it can cost you more in the long run. Not all software is created equal, and some of the "free" Internet security downloads on the Web can actually do more harm than good.

What's a Rogue
If you've never heard of rogue security software or antivirus software, now's the time to learn what it is and why free Internet security products aren't always the good deals they seem to be.

Let's sit back and think for a moment ...
A lot of work goes into creating a comprehensive Internet security product. Why would a company spend months developing such a software product and not charge a dime for it? Sometimes there are hidden agendas in such software offerings.

Some, if not many of the free Internet security downloads on the Web are rogue applications. They come bundled with adware or spyware and can actually do more harm than good. And recent research and articles by companies like Fortinet and Information Week show that these rogues are becoming more and more widespread. XPAntivirus and WinAntivirus are products that look and feel like antivirus software but they are anything but.  Of course, there are some popular products that are free for consumers like Ad-aware and AVG.  These products are far from rogue but again, that is a lot of work to do to give away free software.

StarReviews Top 3 AntiVirus Software

1) The Shield Deluxe 2010

2) Norton Antivirus 2010

3) BitDefender Antivirus '10

Compare All AntiVirus Software

Bottom Line
You get what you pay for. If you want advanced Internet security software, do your research and shop based on the features the software provides and the quality of the technology. Never shop based on price alone.

And don't shop blind either. When doing your research, turn to consumer websites and comparison companies like Star Reviews. There are many software reviews on the Web to reference and learn from.