This may be a stupid question....?

Question

I'm buying a antivirus software and I want to know whats the difference between a "single user" and "3 user"?...I'm a little confuse on this...

Answer 1

single user lets you load it on one computer

3 user lets you load it on 3.

Answer 2

It is largely legal issue, although the fact that today's AV software uses Internet for updates this started to have some technical impact.

"User" in this case might be "machine" not in reference to the human that uses the computer. If you have one machine in your place "single user" would do, "3 user" simply "3 machines".

But even I am mistaken, I am sure I can deal with this amicably since the terms are so vague and layman to the point of confusing.

Answer 3

as others have said it can be used legally on more than one computer up to the number listed in your example 3 computers.
so lets say you have your desktop (home computer) and a lap top (for work perhaps). a single user lice means you need to buy TWO copies or licences to use the product legally on both computers.
a multi user (or seat) licence allows you to buy ONE copy of the software and use it on as many computers as that licence permits in your example three computers. a multi seat or multi user licence is normally verry good value compared to buying multiple copies of the same software for seperat computers.
the user part applies when you install and activate the software each installation requires a seperate USER name. once the total number of users is registered no further installations of that software can be made. if you need to re-install following a hard drive failure or other data loss event you would need to contact the company concerned to let them know you need to re-install and re-activate the product, some companies are good about this and will make it relatively simple to do. some will require you to buy a new copy of the software regardless of how long you have left on the agreed licence period for updates etc.
on the subject of updates some software vendors release updates as frequently as hourly others less frequently up to a month between releases. a great vendor is the hourly or daily updates the worst is mothly or less frequently.
so make sure to run the programs update program as soon as you connect to the internet each day and every couple of hours while on line. Failure to do this simple step could leave the malware suite useless.
i do not know what program you are considering but a program i have never had a problem with is http://www.trendmicro.com pc-cillin internet security. it is easy to use and relatively self expanatory to configure. for a domestic situation where you want to use solely to connect to the internet and no other home network device you need only set the program up and set the firewall to maximum. it will prompt you with warnings of all programs accessing the lan and wan (local net and wider internet). caution as blocking something will stop that item permenantly. if the warning pop up is red this is a good thing, but if blue or amber/orange then you need to allow and then review if it is proved later to be malicious you can edit the firewall and find the program and delete the entry.

I have used many defense packages over the years none even come close to that of the one provided by trendmicro quite possibly the best program i have used in this category.
symantec (norton) and mcaffee are good but both eat a huge amount of system memory and resources even whilst idle. trendmicro use a lot less resources and provides a better package than the two market leaders. trendmicro is so good that they never need to advertise because the product sells itself once you try it free for a month you will buy the licence gladly only around £40 for a years licence and it can be installed on up to 3 computers. less than £15 for a years worth of updates to protect one computer is not bad value at all. considering the nearest norton product is thre times that price.

good luck.

Answer 4

It is clear.You can load 1 part 4 1 person.And 3 part for 3 personnage

Answer 5

You don't need to spend a single dime to get excellent virus protection - just grab one of the free ones like AVG or ClamWin and run it at least once a week or so.

AVG - http://free.grisoft.com/doc/5390/lng/us/tpl/v5#avg-anti-virus-free
ClamWin - http://www.clamwin.com/

Also grab a good anti-spyware program too... Spybot Search & Destroy is excellent.
Spybot S & D - http://www.spybot.info/en/mirrors/index.html

You'll also probably need a firewall (acts as a guard on your internet connection) and Zonealarm (free version) is quite good.
Zonealarm - http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp

And while you're grabbing other security programs, you might as well grab Ccleaner - it cleans out crud from all over your computer (temp files, registry, cache, broken shortcuts, etc)
Ccleaner - http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/

Answer 6

Well single user means u can use it only on a single comp, milti user lisence means u r authorised to use it on several pcs. Its just for authorised use. nothing else.

Answer 7

Save your money hun.
I use AVG free edition. It always scores highly in the computer press.
It does what it's supposed to, has regular updates, but best of all, it's free!
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1

Answer 8

single user means which can only b operated my administrator. & d oder one means which can b used my admain & guest member as well.