How Does Antivirus Protect Your Computers?

 

Most people associate the term "antivirus" with software installed on their computers to protect them from hacking. This is true, but it is not the complete definition. Please continue reading to learn more about antivirus and how it works.

What is Antivirus?

Antivirus computer software scans for and detects viruses and other malicious programs like trojans and worms. This software can prevent cyber threats from getting into your computer.

Although you might think your computer is safe if you don't visit suspicious websites, hackers can use more sophisticated methods to infect your computer. This is why you need a strong antivirus program.

A virus could infect your computer and cause severe damage. Viruses are capable of causing a variety of malicious activities. They can cause a crash to your device, monitor your accounts and spy on your webcam.

Hackers could use viruses to steal personal information. This includes account logins and financial information. This information can be used to commit identity theft, phishing scams and many other crimes. This is why network protection has never been more critical.

Are Antivirus and Anti-Malware the same thing?

The short answer to your question is yes.

Before we dive into the similarities and differences between them, let's first define malware.

What is Malware?

Malware refers to any software that is maliciously written. It can be data theft, computer damage or general privacy invasion.

Malware is spread by victims opening suspicious links or downloading files. Malware can be anything from viruses to ransomware.

Please keep reading for more information about the various types of malware and tips to help prevent them from being used.

What are the differences between them?

Antivirus software and antimalware are similar in protecting your computer against malicious software.

Antimalware is more specific and can be used to cover all aspects of antivirus software. We all know that antivirus software is the best software to install on a new computer.

Many people don't think about installing antimalware software. Antimalware software is designed to combat ransomware and Trojans, while antivirus software provides general protection against many known viruses.

Antivirus tends not to be proactive. It stops downloading malicious files and does not cause havoc on your computer. Antimalware tends to be more reactive, as it searches for and neutralizes malicious files already downloaded that are causing problems.

There are other ways to protect your network.

Install a Firewall

Firewalls are designed to keep intruders out of your network. Firewalls can be used to block or allow specific traffic by creating a virtual "wall", which is a barrier against both inbound and outside traffic.

Antivirus software and firewalls are an excellent foundation for building network security.

Although firewalls are a great way to secure your network, they can become less effective over time.

Cyber threats change so frequently that cyber security software developers must release updates to keep your network safe from hackers.

Although updating your firewall is tedious, it can make you more vulnerable to ransomware attacks. Every day you delay updating your cyber security infrastructure when new versions are released makes you more vulnerable.

You can enable automatic updates on your firewall or other security software. Schedule any updates late at night when you aren't using your computer.

Avoid suspicious links and websites.

It can be tempting to click on links that look suspicious, like those that offer music or movies for free, and then go to websites. It is possible to avoid accidentally downloading ransomware or malware by knowing the basics.

If a website seems too good to be true, you should not trust it. Websites that offer free software or tools are more likely to have malware links.

Phishing is another way hackers can spread malware infections. A hacker may email victims a link to malware-infected files as part of a phishing attack. These emails will appear and feel natural, convincing people to click on the link.

A hacker might attempt to gain access to a company's HR portal by emailing them pretending to be Microsoft and telling them to click on the link to verify their credentials.

You don't have to click the link to trust a link from Microsoft that appears to be coming from Microsoft.

Cyber attacks can result in network downtime that costs companies money every minute. Cyber attacks can also lead to other problems, such as data breach lawsuits and loss of company reputation.