Irina P.
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Verified by
Adam B.
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Last updated:
August 4, 2024
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Though the perfect protection against internet security threats can only be achieved with the active participation of the user, it’s safe to say that antivirus solutions are more than capable of preventing devices from being infected or taken over by wrongdoers. In fact, this kind of software is so effective both when it comes to real-time protection and the on-demand tools for damage control that listing common threats is usually unnecessary. So much so that even internet security companies refer to all malicious files and programs as malware. But even if antiviruses are still considered to be the best line of defense, there are a few things in which they are fallible without some upgrades.
Antiviruses exist in many shapes and forms, but what they all have in common is that, by default, they provide protection against various kinds of threats, including but not limited to:
Although the list could go on even further, the elements indicated here are the most common and enough to give you a taste of what antivirus software can protect you from. Basically, if the nature of an attack is indirect, then the antivirus is able to stop it thanks to their constant monitoring of the user’s online and offline activity. This means that it requires a secret action to be performed on the user’s behalf, such as opening an unknown link or visiting an infected website. In addition to the on-demand scans of such software, antiviruses can isolate and destroy malware should it manage to slip through.
This level of protection is perfect for the average user, whether they choose a freemium or a pay-only solution. However, due to the variety and constantly evolving nature of cyber attacks, basic protection may not be enough. For instance, in their default state many antiviruses aren’t able to differentiate between legitimate login screens and those used for phishing. Nor do they provide spam protection, though admittedly the spam filters built into modern email clients can do this job perfectly. Spotting phishing attempts and spam isn’t rocket science but, sadly, average internet users aren’t as attentive as security experts hope them to be.
Like we said, basic security can be effective, but complementing any missing security functions by upgrading to a more bespoke product or opting for additional solutions will give you complete protection. In fact, the only way to ensure that your device becomes an impenetrable fortress is by ensuring the following features are included either in the antivirus itself or as separate apps:
This feature, which can only be found in paid solutions, adds an extra layer to any existing antiransomware protection by creating a shield for files and folders that contain highly sensitive data. Once protected, these elements cannot fall victim to ransomware and remain available even if the computer is infected.
With this pay-only function the antivirus constantly monitors emails and their attachments, immediately alerting users should it find something suspicious. Although it’s mostly intended for desktop email clients, this feature works perfectly in tandem with the built-in antispam filters of online email solutions as well.
Certain antivirus apps can check the vulnerability of your network by default, but they can’t protect you from exposing your online activities. The only bulletproof way of preventing this from happening is by turning to a VPN, which is unfortunately not an antivirus feature. However, users can still get this tool either as part of an internet security suite that usually include both programs or separately from other security service providers.
Similar to VPNs, password managers are also available separately, but they are quite often offered in antiviruses either as default or as additional pay-only features. A password manager is one of the best ways to protect sensitive data like passwords, IDs, and credit cards whenever you’re online, encrypting the information that antiviruses usually don’t or can’t focus on.
The question of whether or not antivirus solutions will affect a computer’s performance is a common one, and particularly important if you’re not running the latest hardware and therefore more concerned about the impact an always-on tool might have. But is it a concern worth having?
The main reason antivirus might slow your computer down is because it doesn’t have enough memory. When an antivirus scanner is set up on your device, it is actually loaded into the memory of the PC every time it starts. This enables the antivirus to persistently defend your system from any threats. When software is loaded into the memory of a device, it actually partially consumes the memory. If the system is not provided with enough, then the overall performance of the PC can be affected.
At the moment, most PCs have enough memory to be able run an antivirus in the background without slowing down. However, if you do notice this is happening, there are a few actions you can take to speed it up:
Do you have any other tips for enhancing the performance of your computer while being protected by an antivirus solution? Let us know by getting in touch in the comments below.
Antiviruses come in many shapes and sizes, but they are quite similar in many of their features. In fact, the process of performing scans is exactly the same in all cases, whether manually or automatically. First, the antivirus software checks whether the examined element can be considered a threat by performing a signature-based analysis, which looks for specific codes or footprints that viruses usually leave behind. It will then inspect files and programs for any unusual behavior. If these tests detect an issue, then the antivirus isolates the infected elements and places them into a digital quarantine, where they can either be destroyed right away or deleted automatically after a certain period of time.
There is a clear difference between real-time and on-demand scans. Real-time scans, often also called protective shields, are considered the heart of all antivirus software because they provide continuous protection for the device that they are installed on. They aren’t as thorough as their on-demand counterparts, but when active the software can effectively check files, email attachments, and even websites in the background. It will only notify you when a potential threat is caught.
On-demand scans, on the other hand, require manual initiation. However, they are more thorough as they can scan the entire computer for threats and wipe out any that they come across. There is typically more than one scan type available with on-demand antivirus solutions. These scans can be further customized to your liking, altering their thoroughness or their schedule. Despite being more advanced and precise than their real-time counterparts, however, it’s enough to only activate on-demand scans from time to time and rely on the real-time monitoring tools. The latter focuses more on prevention rather than damage control.
The reason why antivirus solutions can be so effective in recognizing and catching viruses and malware is because their virus definitions are kept up to date. This is mostly achieved through reports sent by the software users, which allows antivirus companies to add the digital signatures of any new malicious elements into their database.
For this reason, antiviruses don’t solely rely on existing threats and can also utilize methods of detecting issues to heuristic and behavioral analysis. Heuristic detection adds the capability of recognizing new, evolving threats based on the similarities between them and already known viruses. Behavioral detection helps antiviruses identify malware with unusual behavior patterns that these malicious programs are usually known for. Granted, when these methods are utilized there may be instances of so-called false positives caused by files and software that are falsely ‘accused’ of malicious intent, but in most cases antiviruses are intelligent enough to differentiate between harmless and harmful programs.
Though antiviruses are intended for Windows computers due to the higher frequency of virus infection, there are other variants available for macOS and Android users as well. However, there are some major differences. The Mac versions, for instance, lack many features of their Windows counterparts, such as the sandbox mode for safely running suspicious apps. However, they still provide all the core features associated with antivirus software, including real-time protection and some of the on-demand scans.
Android antivirus apps, on the other hand, are an entirely different story. It isn’t that easy to infect an Android device due to the built-in security solutions and the fact that Google Play removes potentially harmful apps as soon as possible. Android antivirus tools focus more on additional features, however. As such, they are actually closer to memory optimization software equipped with real-time threat monitoring and special security features like anti-theft tools.
You’ve got the antivirus set up. It has plenty of features including the ability to perform scheduled scans – hopefully it’s an advanced one – to provide your system with complete, complex protection. Now, how often should you run antivirus software?
This is very much up to the way you use the internet, however, the most important rule to follow is to have it scan your device at least weekly. In some cases, though, this might not be sufficient, since if you surf the internet a lot and come across websites with many popups, then in just one week you could very well download a virus.
In these instances, it’s recommended to run a scan each day just to ensure your PC is safe and in top form. Since most antivirus software has an option to schedule the scans, these could be set to take place at night or for whenever you are not working on your computer so that it doesn’t interfere with your work.
A lot of antivirus software offers the choice between a full – meaning a complete scan to ensure that your device is not infected – or a quick scan, which is a faster scan on only the most crucial parts of your system.
When it comes to which of these you should choose, it depends on the amount of time you have: the full scan will take longer but is more thorough, while the quick scan is faster and advisable in those instances where you just don’t have the time to perform a full analysis. However, the quick scan will check the operating system files, the documents and downloads folders, and the software files, which is where viruses are typically located most of the time.
Among the most important features that antivirus should feature, you should look for:
Although more and more people are realizing that they shouldn’t take protection against cybercriminals lightly, there are still many of us who believe that antivirus is enough to turn our devices into impenetrable fortresses. But the technological boom humanity has been experiencing since the late 2000s also came with more sophisticated types of cyberattacks, with which wrongdoers can fool even the most advanced antivirus solutions. So, it’s better to rephrase the question: what else is needed to get enough protection?
To this day, many people assume that cyberattacks only involve computers. Sadly, that couldn’t be further from the truth; nowadays anything that connects to the internet can be in danger, whether that be a phone, a tablet, a TV, or even Tesla’s electric cars. And unlike computers that are now equipped with built-in defenses – think firewalls or Windows Defender – many devices lack proper protection, making them easy prey for wrongdoers. Combine this with the number of different online accounts an average user has and the fact that the most advanced malware doesn’t even require direct interaction to carry out its attack, and it’s easy to see why relying solely on an antivirus is the worst possible decision. Granted, an antivirus is still better than nothing, but instead of considering it a knight in shining armor, the best approach is to think about it as a brick in the virtual wall we need to build to keep out cybercriminals.
Since averting malware is becoming more complicated due to the variety and disturbingly sophisticated nature of cyberattacks, antiviruses – which are, thankfully, also evolving at a rapid pace – have to be complemented with other internet security solutions. Although there are plenty of these apps for various issues, having the following ones will guarantee the necessary level of protection that average users need:
Even though it’s mostly known for being the tool internet users use to access geo-blocked content, the virtual private network – more commonly known as VPN – has another advantage that’s actually related to internet security. When it’s turned on, you get a new IP address and your data traffic simply becomes invisible in the eyes of wrongdoers and even internet service providers.
Aside from being a virtual vault for passwords, credit card data, IDs, etc., password managers are great assets against cybercriminals because of the military-grade encryption they use. This means that whatever is put into the software’s storage will remain encrypted until you access the password manager’s vault or until it’s inserted into the right place, whether that be a login screen or an online form. In addition to that, password managers are also capable of generating and recalling insanely complex passwords, meaning that logins can be forgotten without remorse, since the app will fill them in for you.
A must-have for families with children under the age of 18, the parental control tool isn’t just for blocking sites with potentially malicious content. In fact, the software’s modern iteration can be set up to limit the time children spend in front of the computer, send alerts to parents should the app detect something suspicious, take screenshots on a regular basis, and even track portable devices should they be lost or stolen.
Having other internet security solutions besides an antivirus is an effective way of safeguarding your privacy, but it’s only part of the equation. To ensure full protection against cybercriminals, there are many other things to do:
If it’s possible, install internet security solutions on all of your devices.
Regularly update all apps and each of your device’s firmware.
Some people are strong believers that if you follow healthy online habits, antivirus software isn’t a must. Unfortunately, with today’s online threats being on the rise, leaning on healthy habits alone is no longer an option. As consumers and businesses are relying more and more on internet transactions, securing confidential data and defending your device against malicious prowlers like trojans, botnets, ransomware, and other kinds of malware is crucial.
Nowadays, antivirus is needed because it defends against:
Apple, the producer of iOS devices, claims there is no need for antivirus on them since they have unique firmware, hardware, and program constructions. However, with online threats evolving as quickly as they are, such as viruses, spyware, malware, and phishing scams, your personal information could very well be compromised.
To stay on the safe side, it is recommended to set up antivirus for iOS devices as well, since most of the well-known antivirus companies offer free, iOS-dedicated solutions anyways.
If you are still worried about the security of your iPhone or iPad, consider setting up a VPN that can encrypt your activities or a password manager to generate and store your passwords, making them inaccessible to hackers.
Besides setting up comprehensive antivirus software for your device, make sure to adopt the following habits in order to keep it safe:
To a certain point, it doesn’t matter what kind of antivirus software is installed on a computer so long as it can do its job of protecting you against a virus or malware, the removal of which can be a nightmare from both a financial and emotional point of view. In fact, when it comes to the core features, free and paid antiviruses are basically the same, which could make paid solutions seem unnecessary. However, there are actually plenty of good reasons why paid antivirus software may be a worthwhile choice.
It might be strange to consider, but internet security companies typically provide a basic, free of charge version of their antivirus suits, even providing all the necessary features like real-time protection and a default deep scan. In fact, when it comes to preventing devices from infection, there is no clear distinction between free and pay-only software. One area in which free solutions do prevail, however, is in their straightforward nature, meaning they are often easier to use. In other words, equipping the computer with a free antivirus is a clear choice, especially when considering what a hassle it is to have to remove viruses and malware.
Sadly, there is always price to pay, even without realizing it. For starters, these solutions are actually supported by the freemium model, meaning that certain features are restricted to pay-only. At first this may not seem that problematic, if not for the annoying pop-ups that constantly appear to urge you to upgrade.
However, the lack of a secondary firewall, a sandboxing feature, or proper protection against malware and spam could easily take its toll if users aren’t extra cautious. In addition to this, free solutions may not receive updates as often as their paid counterparts do, which could leave the computer vulnerable to attacks. If this results in an infection, then depending on the severity of the case the removal of a virus could cost hundreds of dollars.
Thankfully, viruses and malware sneaking in behind the defense lines of a freemium antivirus is rare and as such they are perfectly fine for individual users on a single device. However, families and businesses should consider opting for paid products for various reasons.
Aside from gaining access to missing features, paid products also come with unlimited customer support over the phone, which is only available to freemium users after paying extra fees. Additionally, paid solutions provide protection for multiple devices as well as parental controls to keep children safe from harmful websites. There are often additional monitoring tools such as the ransomware shield or the antispam function for email clients, which prevent hackers from accessing sensitive data.
Although the cost of these products is significantly cheaper than enlisting professionals to remove malware from the computer, there can still be major differences between the prices of each service. The paid versions of freemium solutions – like Avast or Avira – usually have a price tag between $50 and $80 per year, whereas antiviruses that are pay-only from the get-go can be had for as low as $20 a year.
Aside from tools that are solely antivirus products, there are also so-called internet security suites that can be considered software bundles rather than antiviruses, available with all extras unblocked. Even though these solutions provide everything that paid antiviruses can and more, there are a few drawbacks.
For starters, they are extremely pricey, asking users to pay over $100 each year. Then there is the fact that the additional tools that they provide – like a VPN, password manager, or encrypted storage for backup purposes – can be substituted with equally good if not better services from other relevant providers.
Purchasing an internet security suite is a fairly responsible thing to do, but it’s best to take a look around first and find out if the chosen software bundle is actually a better value prospect than combining just the antivirus software of one company with the protection of a security service from a different provider.
With so many options available for free and paid antivirus software, the question of whether or not free antivirus software is good enough is a legitimate one. While the answer many times depends on who you are asking, we thought it might come in handy to shed some light on the matter.
While most of the free antivirus programs have evolved massively over the years, they still do present certain limitations when it comes to the threats that could put your device and important data at risk. Even though the majority of them offer basic protection with automatic scanning and some of them provide supplementary tools like browser add-ons that verify malicious links, what these free tools always lack is technical support. Even though some providers offer a certain level of support via live chat or telephone, free antivirus users have to find the answers by themselves most of the time.
Now, if you are a business owner, read carefully: free antiviruses do not provide licenses for business use. Besides, when you choose a free antivirus, you’ll usually have to put up with the company’s repeated advertisements to upgrade to a paid product. As we all know, there are no such thing in life as a free lunch, and antivirus providers will do their best to either convince you to upgrade to their paid versions or, worse, they might even gather personal information via the toolbars they incorporate to research your internet browsing habits and work hand in hand with companies in those fields via ad targeting.
If you want to have complete protection – which is especially necessary if you own a business – then the most valid solution is the paid antivirus, which nowadays also provides defense against spyware and malware, as well as firewalls or other such additional features to ensure that your systems and data are kept secure. Most of these suites are updated automatically to provide protection against evolving threats, too.
Some of the advantages of these paid solutions include technical support whenever you require it and supplementary features to secure your identity online. It’s good to ensure you choose one that delivers antiphishing protection, too, so that no website can get its hands on your sensitive information, and that the technical support is delivered via live chat or means other than telephone since if you live on the other side of the world, this could prove to be a nuisance.
By now you should have a pretty clear idea of the type of antivirus you want to use for your computer. But once it detects a virus, the big question is this: should you quarantine or delete? There are a few differences between the two, and knowing those might help you choose which you want.
The process of quarantining a virus through antivirus software means moving it into a safe location that is administered by the software, but at the same time does not clean or delete it. This means that the virus will not be able to affect your device anymore, but nor is it permanently removed either.
The files that are stored in the quarantine area are only deleted if you wanted them to be. The user will need to either instruct the antivirus to delete these malicious files or do so manually. A file can be kept in the quarantine section indefinitely, however if it is an important one, it should be cleaned so that you can use it again.
Some antivirus software stores the infected quarantined files in certain labs where they are analyzed by the provider’s researchers and, if a virus is detected, then they release a signature that will eliminate the malware. After that, the cleaned files are automatically sent back to their initial location and can be used normally.
By deleting a virus you are actually entirely eliminating the infected files from your PC, which means that you will not be able to use them in the future. Usually it is recommended to delete a virus only if the antivirus specifically points out that it is safe to do so. This should be after undergoing your own research and acknowledging that the file is useless and you are absolutely convinced that it is a virus or there is no other choice.
If you notice a piece of software does not run because a file is in quarantine, then it is up to you to decide whether to restore or add it to the antivirus’s exceptions. Many times it may be that the virus is sent to the provider’s support team to analyze it and, if it proves to be a healthy file after all, they will upgrade the antivirus to become familiar with its file signature.
Therefore, a quarantined virus is entirely harmless as long as it remains in the quarantine. However, if it makes you feel better and you’re absolutely certain your system doesn’t need it anymore, then delete it.
Are you concerned about the security of your device? If the answer is inevitably yes, consider two popular defense solutions that can enhance your device’s security: antivirus and a VPN. These solutions are available for anyone and can help protect your PC against several types of digital threats.
Antivirus software is a program or several programs that are intended to help avoid, look for, identify, and annihilate malicious software such as viruses, trojans, worms, spyware, ransomware, and so on.
Antivirus essentially performs the following tasks:
Make sure you always keep your antivirus updated, so that it can permanently defend your device against the latest e-threats.
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) enables users to have a secure internet connection to another network. Basically, it connects your device to another one (a server), enabling it to browse the internet using that server’s connection.
Therefore, if the server being used via the VPN is located in another country, it will seem as though the user is located in that said country, therefore allowing them to have access to more information.
Here is what a VPN does:
While both solutions do provide some type of protection, your best bet is to use both. Antivirus programs will keep you safe against spyware and malware (malicious programs) and will prevent your device from becoming infected.
Similarly, a VPN alone cannot keep you completely safe. Even though it can protect your identity, it does not provide protection against malicious software being downloaded.
To sum it up, antivirus protects your PC from infections, while a VPN defends you while you are browsing the internet.
In this regard, there are certain antivirus solutions that offer a VPN as an extended feature. Depending on the provider, usage may be limited or unlimited.
When it comes to the security of their computers, more and more users are becoming aware of the importance of having competent antivirus. It’s easy to see how someone might think, therefore, that using two antivirus programs at the same time would be beneficial… but this is just not at all true when it comes to antivirus software.
There’s an issue with having two antivirus programs active at once because of three main reasons:
In today’s evolving world of online threats, free antivirus programs are the least recommended choice for the protection of your computer. The reason being is that they all have limitations when it comes to the extended security that they can provide. Paid upgrades, on the other hand, come with a whole range of features that will ensure the reliable protection of your device, as well as your sensitive data that some websites might try to get their hands on.
Most antivirus companies offer paid versions for their antivirus software that come at an affordable price that, especially if you sign up for a longer subscription, cost only a handful of dollars a month. This way you can rest assured that you’ve made a sound investment into the security of your device and important information.
Users should verify their systems that already have an antivirus installed with an alternative scanner for a second opinion every now and then to ensure that the main antivirus has checked everything. For this means, cloud-based scanners are a great option since they do most of their processing on the internet and not on the hard drive of your PC. This means that can run in conjunction with your system’s installed, real-time antivirus suite.
With all the antivirus software providers claiming to have “the best” antivirus on the market, choosing the right one for your device can be daunting. As a starting point, make sure you choose one that includes the following features.
Unless you’re an IT expert, it’s extremely important for your antivirus to be easy to use. Make sure you choose a software with a user-friendly interface so that you don’t have to spend too much time figuring out how to turn its features on and off.
This is also relevant when it comes to the extra features it offers, which you should be able to easily locate and set up without having to go too deep into the software’s settings.
Real-time protection is undoubtedly one of the most crucial features of antivirus software. It refers to an automatic defense system that checks the PC for any malicious acts in real time.
This means that your PC will be protected as data is entering it, or when a file found in the PC is being executed or opened. In antivirus, this feature is ideally able to run in the background, without using too much of your device’s energy.
As you are most likely aware, identity theft is rapidly increasing. Since our businesses as well as personal lives are becoming more digitalized, it is quite easy for criminals to get their hands on your data, sell it to advertising companies, and even empty your bank accounts.
Good antivirus software should be able to defend your personal information through different methods. For instance, each time you fill in credit card or banking information online, it should check to make sure a virus hasn’t taken control over your device.
Automated antivirus updates are important because in order to identify the latest types of malware, the antivirus needs to be up-to-date. Besides, if the antivirus can only be updated manually, the chances of you forgetting to do so are high, leaving your device at high risk for becoming infected by a new virus.
Appropriate antivirus software should be able to scan emails and block ones where any malware or viruses are spotted. There are also antivirus programs that look for phishing scams and eliminate these messages to protect you against them.
A virus is a type of malware (malicious program) that contains small codes attached to harmless software. When the software starts running, the virus does too. A virus can get inside PC files without the user being aware of it.
In order to avoid getting infected by this type of malware, follow these tips:
Antivirus does exactly that… it fights against, among other threats, viruses. Your device(s) need to be defended from both known and emerging malware that can cause a lot of damage to your personal and business life, alike.
Also, make sure your antivirus software is always up-to-date, because if it becomes outdated, it will be more vulnerable to ever-developing threats, implying that it won’t be able to continue identifying and combating them.
Your best bet here would be an antivirus that updates automatically, so that you won’t be interrupted while you are working on your device and you won’t have to remember to keep updating it yourself.
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