The threats are multiple on the web and it is no longer a secret to anyone. Unfortunately, malware, online scams, ransomware, and cyber-attacks have not diminished in number or effectiveness, which is why using an antivirus on your computer is recommended or even essential. . Having written this, there is still a problem: choosing the right antivirus for your use. Today we can say that all antiviruses are effective in detecting and blocking almost all malware. However, not all of them offer the same functionalities and some are easier to handle than others, which are more aimed at advanced users. Offers can also vary: number of PCs covered, protection for Mac and/or Android and iOS mobile devices, extra features like a VPN… To make the right choice, you need to ask yourself the right questions!
First of all, is the antivirus really effective?
If in the past there were great disparities between antiviruses, today we can say that, in general, an antivirus is effective in blocking malicious software. In the latest tests by independent laboratories, it is not uncommon for all tested products to detect between 99 and 100% of the viruses, ransomware and other Trojans tested. This does not mean, however, that they are infallible. Cybercrime is constantly evolving and thousands of new malicious programs appear regularly or even daily. Faced with these so-called “zero-day” threats, the antivirus may fail to block it, either because it does not know the file in question, or because the malware has managed to frustrate the protection engine’s scanning mechanisms. However, despite these limitations, a modern and up-to-date antivirus can considerably reduce the risk of infection by up to 99%.
What criteria to choose your antivirus?
Several criteria must be taken into account when choosing an antivirus. The price is obviously at the center of the considerations and can vary greatly depending on the solutions. An antivirus can even be free if you’re happy with the basic protection, and the price varies depending on the functionalities, the duration of the commitment and the number of protected machines. An antivirus can offer many functions. Generally, publishers offer two or three offers. The first focuses on “hard-core” security with antivirus and firewall. The intermediate solution can add additional functionalities such as a VPN, privacy protection tools or data monitoring modules, in particular banking. Finally, the “Premium” version often offers additional modules such as parental control, PC optimization or even mobile device protection. The duration of the commitment varies. Most antiviruses offer a one year commitment, sometimes with a 2 year option. Throughout this period, you have all the updates of the threat databases but also of functionalities. The era of editions 2022, 2023, etc. it has given way to a model where applications are regularly updated like Microsoft 365. To make your choice, it may be interesting to take a look at user opinions. Beyond the laboratory tests that prove the effectiveness of an antivirus, the opinions of the users allow us to know if the software is really simple and pleasant to use on a day-to-day basis. If an antivirus is too intrusive or complex, many users will have noticed it. Finally, the age of an antivirus on the market is a sign of its robustness. An actor who has been around for years or even decades inspires some confidence. Please note: This is not necessarily a certainty, because a publisher may have been bought out or a once-effective solution may have lost quality.
An antivirus can be free or paid and naturally it is tempting to go for a free antivirus. Why pay if you can have the same service? In reality, there are big differences between a free and paid antivirus, without this meaning that a free antivirus is necessarily bad or ineffective. On the contrary: they have progressed a lot in recent years and are often at the top of the rankings. On the other hand, a free antivirus will be much more limited in its functionalities. If you want complete protection against viruses and malware, but also ransomware, phishing, network intrusions or even data theft, it is often better to opt for a paid antivirus that will offer more complete and functional features. PERSONAL COMPUTER. Also, most free antiviruses are restricted versions of a paid product.
Antivirus: what threats does it protect against?
An antivirus is not limited to what is traditionally called a “virus”. This name has stuck but comes from a time when viruses, spreading in particular via a floppy disk or USB key, were the main threats to deal with. Today, an antivirus protects the system and user data against a wider variety of threats.
Ransomware or ransomware has developed in recent years and this type of malware aims to take your data hostage, targeting Documents, Pictures or Videos folders in particular. Specifically, it encrypts the files present in these folders and asks you for a ransom to unlock them. An antivirus will detect and prevent these changes.
Spyware was around a long time ago, but it is still one of the most common threats, and in particular, it can take control of your webcam or capture your keystrokes (also known as a “keylogger”). Here the goal is to spy on you to collect personal data.
A Trojan horse is the name given to a type of threat that hides malicious activity in apparently legitimate software, like the horse in the famous legend of Ulysses. In particular, there are banking Trojans or, more recently, those associated with fake streaming services.
And speaking of fakes, phishing is a well-known technique that consists of deceiving user surveillance through a fake site or a fake email that imitates that of a bank, an administration or even a delivery service. Today, most antiviruses detect and block these online scams.
Antivirus: do you want to protect one or more machines?
Most antivirus vendors now offer a variety of formulas, and it’s not necessarily easy to find your way around. That’s why it’s essential to ask the right questions beforehand.
The first is that of the user: who needs protection? If you want an antivirus for your PC and you are the only one who needs it, an individual license will suffice. On the other hand, with the multiplication of devices within the same family, it may be interesting to resort to an offer that protects 3, 5 or even 10 devices.
In the same way, these devices are not necessarily just Windows PCs. If you have smartphones (iPhone or Android), tablets, or Macs in your home, you’ll need to make sure that the license you purchase allows you to install solutions for macOS, Android, and iOS. Most offer it today, but it’s not consistent and the quality of these apps can vary from publisher to publisher. It is important to choose a solution that suits you. If you have children, for example, it will be necessary to highlight the presence of a parental control tool, or a good anti-theft device for smartphones.
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Source: BFM TV
