It seems the best things in life really are free, as internet users in Greater China can receive at no charge another major brand of online security software.

German firm Avira, with more than 100 million users worldwide, yesterday launched its free-to-download AntiVir software in conjunction with the opening of its North Asia headquarters in Hong Kong, which will also oversee operations on the mainland, Taiwan and South Korea. 'We intend to further expand our customer base in North Asia, capitalising on fast-growing demand for internet security from this region's rapidly increasing online population,' said Tjark Auerbach, the founder and chief executive of Avira.

There were a total of 417.5 million internet users in the company's targeted North Asia market as of September last year, according to Internet World Stats. China had an internet population of about 360 million then. Avira follows the path taken by United States-based Microsoft Corp, which introduced last year its free Microsoft Security Essentials product to consumers in Hong Kong and the mainland.