High quality Internet safety for free? How can a company afford to give it away?

"Our company also provides value added services, and we make lots of profit in these sectors."

It all comes down to the users. Each company has its own understandings about what users want.

He said, "Some Internet users are not very serious about Internet safety. They often reinstall their operation system by themselves, so it's no problem for them to use free anti-virus software. But I think there are still many users hoping their computer could stay safe. So they need professional, and paid, services."

"Anti-virus software requires repeated experience. Some users have been using paid software, but they always come across abnormal circumstances, or lose files. But after switching to our products, these things never happen again."

Experts say the two operating models give consumers more options.

Huang Chengqing, Director, Internet Society of China, said, "Netizens should have the right to decide which one they will use. Users may be dissatisfied if free software could not provide high quality service, or if there are no free ones. We should let users choose by themselves. The market will wash out the unqualified."

The war among Internet security companies is becoming increasingly fierce. The debate between free and paid services is very likely to continue.