Is Antivirus Software Enough?

But is antivirus software really enough to keep you safe? And, if not, why is antivirus software necessary? Read our guide below to get the answers to these questions and more.

What is antivirus software? Antivirus software is programming for your computer that will scan for, detect, quarantine, and delete malware from your computer. Your antivirus can also help to protect your computer from getting infected by using protective measures like scanning email attachments before downloading them to your device. Should you attempt to download malicious code, your antivirus will delete the programming or quarantine it to a space in your hard drive where it won’t harm the rest of your operating system or files.

How does antivirus software work? Malware is always evolving. If it wasn’t, cybersecurity would have solved the problem of computer viruses many years ago. To combat the everchanging world of malware, your antivirus will automatically update to keep its database current with newly identified malicious code. This database is what your software will use as a reference when it scans a program, application, or file before allowing a download. If the software identifies code that’s identical or similar to known malware in its database, it will quarantine or remove it. Your antivirus software will go through this same process when it runs scans of your operating system to ensure that malware hasn’t snuck its way through initial scans and checks.

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Is antivirus software necessary? Yes. Nearly the entire world is online, which means that your computer or device can be attacked by malware from anywhere on the globe. All operating systems are vulnerable to malware, whether it’s Windows or macOS. So, antivirus software is most certainly necessary.

Will antivirus software alone protect against all malware? In most cases, yes, antivirus software will protect your computer system and network against all types of malware. Whether it’s a direct attack with a worm or Trojan or a phishing attempt, your antivirus has safety measures in place that are meant to protect you from malicious attacks. But it’s only effective if you keep it up to date. While it seems like a pain in the neck, let your antivirus software perform scheduled scans and updates to ensure your system is free of malware and the database is up to date. The most recent update for your antivirus will ensure you’re protected against even the newest malware coding.

Does my iPhone need antivirus software? Neither iPhones nor iPads need antivirus software. Apple has complete control over its operating system and locks down its App Store to ensure users don’t download malware. However, that doesn’t put users of either device entirely in the clear of malware. Apps that are downloaded outside of the App Store and links that navigate to malicious websites can still download malware to your device without your knowledge. So, Apple users still need to use discretion when using their devices.

Does my Android device need antivirus software? Android devices come with built-in antivirus protection that can keep most users safe from malware. It takes a careful user who knows how to handle suspicious links in their email and understands safe web browsing practices to avoid downloading malware. But your stock antivirus application should be enough to keep your device from getting hacked and having malware downloaded to it.

These days, antivirus software is almost enough to keep your devices safe from malware. You still need to be careful about clicking links in suspicious emails that can lead to malicious websites or the downloading of sketchy attachments. Your antivirus can do a lot to protect you, but none is going to be 100% effective if you’re not working with it.