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.
Why Do I Need Antivirus?
Nowadays, antivirus is needed because it defends against:
• Viruses: malicious software that is able to thrive by modifying other programs and placing its own code inside them when it is executed.
• Botnets: networks of private PCs that are infected with malicious programs and that are being controlled without the owner’s awareness, to send spam, for example.
• Rootkits: these are collections of malicious programs that are created to allow access to a PC or a part of its software that shouldn’t be accessed.
• Worms: these are independent malware programs that can replicate themselves so that they can invade other PCs as well.
• Spyware: a program that allows someone to get covert data from another PC’s activities via the hard drive.
• Trojans: a kind of malware that is often disguised as credible software in the attempt to gain access to the user’s devices.
• Message hacking: be it instant messaging or emails, some malicious messages contain infected attachments or fraudulent links.
Is Antivirus Needed for My iOS, As Well?
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.
Tips to Keep Your PC Safe
Besides setting up comprehensive antivirus software for your device, make sure to adopt the following habits in order to keep it safe:
• Ensure that backups are performed regularly: this actually means transferring the important information from your PC into a safe place, so that if your PC does get infected, you can restore it without losing your data. This can be done via local backups on a secondary drive, for example.
• Set up a firewall: a firewall acts as a barrier between your PC and any kind of malicious software that attempts to infiltrate it from the internet. If you’re using your device from home, it is advisable to always have the firewall turned on, so that you know if any attempts to utilize your system are made.
• Verify the browser security settings: browsers that are mostly used nowadays have security and privacy settings that should be studied and set to the desired degree.
Best Antivirus Software of 2024
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More Antivirus FAQs
- Can Antivirus Protect Against Hackers, Ransomware, Phishing…?
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- Is Antivirus Protection Enough?
- Is Antivirus Really Necessary?
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- Should I Use Antivirus or a VPN?
- Should I Use Two Antivirus Programs at the Same Time?
- What Features Should Antivirus Software Have?
- What Is a Virus and How Can It Be Stopped?
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