Disclaimer: We sustain our work & review products through paid collaborations.
How To Prevent Viruses and Malicious Code

How To Prevent Viruses and Malicious Code

If you haven’t started protecting your devices from viruses yet, it’s probably a good idea if you start now. To put it into perspective, according to a malware and virus report published by AVG in 2024, there were over 150,000 malware attacks per second in 2023.

Unfortunately, this trend is on a sharp incline, and the only way to avoid being one of a significant number of victims is to be proactive. To master how to prevent viruses and malicious code, it’s vital to understand how they work. In this article, we explain these threats and what you can do to protect yourself.

Virus Written on Binary Code Background

Understanding viruses and malicious code

With so many types of cyber threats, it’s natural to get confused. Plus, some threats operate in a similar way, which doesn’t help. Viruses, malicious code, or malware are programs designed to infiltrate computer systems and disrupt, damage, or steal data. However, probing deeper reveals how they’re different:

Malicious code: Any code explicitly written to exploit users, networks, devices, and data. It’s a general term used to refer to infected scripts and software.

Malware: A type of malicious code designed to damage and take control of devices. It includes ransomware, worms, spyware, and viruses.

Virus: A particular type of malware and malicious code. As the name suggests, these follow the pattern of biological viruses: infect, replicate, and spread. They attach themselves to documents or files by inserting their malicious code, which is activated when an infected file is opened. By then, the virus may have already spread throughout your device and further replicate when the infected file is shared.

Laptop with virus alert

A good example is ILOVEYOU – one of the most popular and historic viruses. It consisted of an email message with an attachment called ‘LOVE-LETTER-FOR-YOU.txt.vbs’. Of course, with a name like that, many people opened it, which triggered the virus to hijack their address book and forward the message to everyone on the list. As it propagated, it corrupted files on computers worldwide.

Common threats and their impact

Unfortunately, viruses are just one entry in a long list of threats. They have been largely replaced by more sophisticated types of malware:

  • Worm: Self-replicating program that damages files and spreads through networks without user intervention.
  • Ransomware: Encrypts files, with attackers demanding payment in exchange for decryption.
  • Adware: Shows unwanted and intrusive pop-up ads, often generating revenue for its creators by collecting your data for targeted advertisement.
  • Spyware: Gathers personal data, such as passwords and internet activity, without your consent.
  • Trojan horse: Infected file disguised as legitimate software to trick users into opening or executing it.

Binary Code on Top of Virus Background

All these malware can cause significant damage to both people and businesses. This includes operational disruption, bankruptcy, substantial financial loss, reputation damage, and data loss. Naturally, the extent of the impact is usually worse for organizations since most are connected to more extensive networks.

Furthermore, advancements in technology have made cybercrime more dangerous. Bad actors are now using sophisticated tactics to target their victims. These include elaborate social engineering attacks like AI-driven romance scams and supply chain attacks and the use of deepfakes, disinformation, and ransomware-as-a-service – essentially a marketplace where hackers sell or lease ransomware.

Best practices and strategies for prevention

Considering the growing number of cyber threats and the different ways they can be applied, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed regarding protection. To address this, there are a few crucial cybersecurity strategies you need to stay on top of emerging risks.

Crucial cybersecurity strategies

1

Use reliable antivirus and anti-malware solutions

The world of antimalware tools and solutions is as large as the number of threats, so there are plenty to choose from. Fortunately, you can check our recommendations for the best antivirus software to find one that suits your needs. Alternatively, for a more comprehensive approach to security and privacy, we suggest browsing the best internet security suites.

2

Adopt safe browsing habits

Since browsers are one of the primary exploited entry points used by bad actors, it’s crucial to avoid providing opportunities that compromise your security. We recommend adjusting your browser’s privacy and security settings, using a pop-up blocker and private browsing modes, and routinely deleting cookies. You also need to be vigilant about incoming suspicious emails with unexpected attachments or requests for private information, as these may be phishing attempts. Fortunately, you can avoid all this manual labor by opting for one of the best secure browsers and email services.

3

Deploy strong network security

Most hacks take advantage of unsecured and weak networks, so you should try to bolster yours. You can achieve this by using a firewall and network perimeters and using SSL/TLS for all communications. Lastly, we recommend performing regular vulnerability scans of network devices and systems.

Best internet security software of 2025

Editors' choice

TotalAV

Editor's rating:
Intuitive and versatile program
Good user interaction and customization level
Integrated VPN and password manager
Multiplatform support
Power users

Bitdefender Internet Security

Editor's rating:
Intuitive dashboard with great level of customization
Comprehensive antivirus
Small system impact with quick and in-depth scans
Extraordinary number of extra features
Families

McAfee Total Protection

Editor's rating:
Very easy to use
Plenty of additional features
Customizable firewall protection
Multiplatform support for computers and mobile

TotalAV

Editor's rating:
Starting price: $19.95/yr
Main features
  • Intuitive and versatile program
  • Good user interaction and customization level
  • Integrated VPN and password manager
  • Multiplatform support
  • Intuitive and versatile program
  • Good user interaction and customization level
  • Integrated VPN and password manager
  • Multiplatform support
  • Heavy performance loss from in-depth scans
Summary
View summary

When it comes to providing total antivirus protection, it’s certainly better to already have access to the tools to do just that. This is what British brand SS Protect has done with TotalAV, which produces other privacy and computer optimization software such as the VPN solution Scanguard and a registry cleaner. While these programs are entirely separate from each other, TotalAV adds the extra benefits of these into a versatile security suite that provides a great level of protection against all sort of menaces. Even better, the suite is compatible with computers and mobile devices across different operating systems and is suitable for every kind of user thanks to useful preset settings and a handful of customizable details. While TotalAV does come in different shapes and sizes price-wise, the company does offer a 30-day money-back guarantee and the first scan is on the house, too.

Special offers
View offers
$59.95 per year for TotalAV Ultimate
30-day risk-free trial of TotalAV
Free first scan with TotalAV

Bitdefender Internet Security

Editor's rating:
Starting price: $40/mo
Main features
  • Intuitive dashboard with great level of customization
  • Comprehensive antivirus
  • Small system impact with quick and in-depth scans
  • Extraordinary number of extra features
  • Intuitive dashboard with great level of customization
  • Comprehensive antivirus
  • Small system impact with quick and in-depth scans
  • Extraordinary number of extra features
  • VPN requires extra payment
  • Windows exclusive
Summary
View summary

Bitdefender was born in the millennial generation, but this Romanian company actually shows such great maturity when dealing with online security that over 500 million users worldwide already rely on its services. Bitdefender Internet Security is one of the most complete and popular choices given its attractive interface, ease of use, and solid defense against all kinds of menaces. Though it’s exclusive to Windows, the extensive antivirus protection and numerous privacy tools are the highlights of a suite that can not only be complemented with extra services but can also be fully customized to fulfil the personal needs of each user. But Bitdefender Internet Security’s greatest asset, however, is that it has one of the best quality-to-price ratios, all available for testing with a 30-day free trial.

Special offers
View offers
Up to 41% off Bitdefender Internet Security
Only $0.55 per month for 10 computers

McAfee Total Protection

Editor's rating:
Starting price: $34.99/yr
Main features
  • Very easy to use
  • Plenty of additional features
  • Customizable firewall protection
  • Multiplatform support for computers and mobile
  • Very easy to use
  • Plenty of additional features
  • Customizable firewall protection
  • Multiplatform support for computers and mobile
  • Noticeable performance impact of quick and full scans
  • Lack of scan customization
  • VPN and Identity Theft Protection features require auto-renewal
Summary
View summary

McAfee is one of the most reputable companies in the world, with a vast catalog ranging from free to premium internet security solutions for computers and mobile devices. While each customer is welcome to purchase any product individually, McAfee Total Protection is the preferred tool for those who seek comprehensive protection for up to ten devices. The arsenal of features includes not only an antivirus, but also a robust firewall, a dedicated section for improving computer performance, network protection tools such as a VPN, and much more. This versatile suite starts at $34.99 for the first year, but the best news is that the company offers a full-program, 30-day free trial.

Special offers
View offers
Over 66% discount on the first year
Only $0.38 per month for 10 devices
30-day free trial of McAfee Total Protection
30-day money-back guarantee with McAfee Total Protection

Stay secure: Ensure long-term cybersecurity

Staying safe online becomes more crucial every day, and this calls for immediate attention to cybersecurity, both for individuals and businesses. Threats are evolving at an unmatched speed, and failing to adapt is like willingly handing over your wallet to a thief.

Combining different strategies is paramount, such as subscribing to an internet security suite and ensuring reliable and strong network security. Using a password manager, ensuring all software is updated, and backing up your data are also critical steps in securing long-term protection.

Preventing viruses and malicious code is not a one-size-fits-all approach. It requires ongoing vigilance and consistent checks to significantly reduce the chances of being hacked. That said, we invite you to visit our website to learn more about internet security. Lastly, feel free to share your own tips or ask questions in the comments.

Discussions

Share your thoughts, ask questions, and connect with other users. Your feedback helps our community make better decisions.

©2012-2025 Best Reviews, a clovio brand – All rights reserved