What is antivirus software?
Antivirus is software purpose-built to detect and destroy threats like viruses, malware, ransomware, spyware and others. It helps protect your computer against malware and cyber criminals. Antivirus software looks at data — web pages, files, software, applications — traveling over the network to your devices. It searches for known threats and monitors the behavior of all programs, flagging suspicious behavior. It seeks to block or remove malware as quickly as possible.
What is antivirus software designed to do?
Antivirus software is a program or umbrella of programs whose purpose is to scan for and eradicate computer viruses and other malicious software, also known as malware. Antivirus software is a vital component of your overall online and computer security strategy in its protection against data and security breaches along with other threats.
A computer virus is similar to a cold virus. It’s designed to go from one computer or device to the next, copying itself, and spreading malicious codes and programs that can damage and infiltrate your operating systems. Viruses are designed to give criminals access to their victims’ devices.
These viruses, spyware, and other malicious software are known as malware, and can be surreptitiously installed on your computer or device. Malware can do everything from crashing your device to monitoring or controlling your online activity. This control may enable hackers to send spam and steal your private information, which could eventually lead to identity theft.
What are the different types of antivirus protection?
Malware signature antivirus
Malware, or malicious software, installs viruses and spyware on your computer or device without your knowledge. Malware can steal your login information, use your computer to send spam, crash your computer system, and essentially give cyber criminals access to your devices and the information stored on them, and even the ability to monitor and control your online activity.
Malware signature antivirus software detects malware signatures, which are digital fingerprints of malicious software. Antivirus protection can scan for specific malicious codes, identify specific viruses, and disable these programs.
While malware signature antivirus protection is key for detecting and eradicating known viruses, one limitation is its inability to address new viruses. The antivirus product simply doesn’t contain these new virus signatures.
System monitoring antivirus
This is where system monitoring antivirus software comes into play. This antivirus protection can monitor software and computer systems for behavior that is suspect or atypical of the user.
For instance, alerts are created when a user connects to unfamiliar sites or attempts to access a large number of files, or when there’s a significant increase in data usage.
Machine learning antivirus
Another form of protection can be machine learning techniques, which monitor “normal” computer or network behaviors. The machine learning antivirus software is able to limit activities by programs or computers if they look suspicious.
More specifically, machine learning detection implements algorithms to facilitate malware detection that is broader in scope. This type of antivirus protection is beneficial because it works in tandem with other antivirus applications to provide multiple layers of protection.
What does antivirus software help protect us from?
The beauty of malware for hackers is its ability to gain access to or damage a computer without our knowledge. It’s important to be aware of the many different types of malicious codes, or “malware,” against which antivirus software is designed to protect:
- Spyware: stealing sensitive information
- Ransomware: extorting money
- Viruses
- Worms: spreading copies between computers
- Trojans: promising one thing but delivering another
- Adware: advertising
- Spam: spreading unwanted email
Free antivirus software: Does it work?
Another common question is whether free antivirus software protects us. But is anything ever really free? “Free” antivirus inevitably supports and makes money with advertising and tracking, and by installing junk ware.
Free downloads also can hide malware. If you go this route, only download software from sites that you absolutely trust. You also must ensure that your security setting is set high enough to detect malicious codes.
Another thing to keep in mind when considering whether to rely on free antivirus protection? Identity theft protection, mobile security, and data security support options. These important security features often are lacking with free software.
Avoiding fake antivirus software
Fake antivirus software is one of the most persistent threats on the internet today. Masquerading as legitimate antivirus software, fake antivirus software is in fact a malicious program that extorts money from you to “fix” your computer. And often, this new “antivirus” program disables legitimate security software that you already have, exposing you to real threats.
These rogue programs try to hook you while you’re browsing the web by displaying a popup window that warns you that your computer may be infected, and that you need to download (fake) security software to fix the problem. This type of software is often referred to as “scare ware” since the pop-ups use messages like “You have a virus,” as a way to get you to click.
Most of us are eager to get rid of any potential problems as quickly as possible, which in turn has made the bad guys who make fake antivirus software so successful. Once you agree to the purchase, the cyber criminals end up with your credit card details and other personal information, and you get nothing but malware in return.
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