Malware attacks are something that isn’t restricted to governmental entities and big companies. Anyone can have their device hacked by a virus or malware that causes major damages. There are, in fact, more than a quarter of a million malicious programs discovered every day! Many people settle with the antivirus software that comes pre-installed on their device, but that may not be sufficient enough. Here’s everything you need to know about this software and how to choose one for your device.
What Is Antivirus Software
Antivirus software, also known as antimalware software, is a piece of software installed into a device that is designed to prevent viruses or other malware from entering. These viruses or malware can cause the personal data on your device to be compromised or cause damage to the hardware. Installing this type of software is extremely important to protect your data and device from any malware attack, which is more frequent than you think.
How Does It Work
The way this piece of software operates is mainly through reactive scanning where it scans any codes, files, or programs on the device to check if it’s malware. These files and programs go through a comprehensive database of known malware and viruses that are collected by the software company. The software then compares data and programs on your device to this list to match them and then proceeds to isolate, scan, then remove it. That’s where each company shines with its own software with the strength of its database, which is why you need to read more here about comparing the best cybersecurity software. It helps you make an informed decision on which software to have and how to get the best deals.
How To Choose Antivirus Software
- Evaluate Security Level Needed
Before you start sifting through different antivirus software, you need to think about what level of security you need. Start by evaluating the kind of security risks you faced or may face in the future. If you use the device for basic needs like emails and streaming platforms, there’s no need to go over the top with security. However, if you use it for important work like running a business, or you roam the web extensively, it’s worth installing protection against any possible threats.
- Consider Compatibility With Device
The second step in choosing the right anti-virus is checking if it’s compatible with your device’s operating system. This is because sometimes each antivirus software is built in a specific way to suit each version of each operating system. Don’t worry, it isn’t hard to find as it sounds, almost all software providers now offer it in multiple versions. Choosing an incompatible antivirus might affect the speed of your device and not do any protection against malware.
- Check Usability
Using antivirus software shouldn’t be something reserved only for those who are tech-savvy. It might not have the most aesthetic user interface among other programs, but it should be straightforward to use. That’s why you need to make sure the software you choose is easy to navigate, with a balance between form and function. The settings should be easily adjusted to suit your needs, without loads of menus that are unintuitive and vague options.
- Pay Attention To Features
Now that you know the level of security you need and what’s compatible with your device, you need to check the features offered in each antivirus software to see if it suits your needs. Many people get taken away by ones that have all kinds of fancy bonus features like browser plugins, webcam protection, content blockers, VPN, and password managers. However, you need to think if you will actually be using them instead of paying extra for unnecessary features.
- Detection Methods & Rates
This is where the quality of antivirus software comes into play; how high its detection rates and which methods are used. The best methods an antivirus software can give you are on-demand discovery and real-time scanners. The latter would be running in the background, checking any file accessed by the device, whether online or offline. As for on-demand discovery, it would run periodically through every file, whether assessed or not, to check for malware. When it comes to detection rates, you shouldn’t go for software with any lower than 95% of protection against malware. At the same time, make sure that rate doesn’t coincide with high rates of false positives; a normal file that is mistakenly flagged as malware.
- Privacy Policy
Just because this is a piece of software that is supposed to protect your data does not mean you shouldn’t check its privacy policy. We are in times where our personal information is constantly in danger, that there are software companies charged with selling data to information brokers. This because this software is allowed access to every single part of your device’s system. That’s why you need to make sure you’re dealing with a secure piece of software. Make sure you read the privacy policy carefully and check if it guarantees your protection.
- Customer Support
Another thing you need to put into consideration while choosing antivirus software is the company’s level of customer support. Many people overlook this aspect, but you might run into any kind of trouble with the software and need assistance with it. Don’t settle for auto email responders or chatbots, they don’t come in handy if there’s a major issue. Ideally, there would be constant emergency support and active forums with actual customer service representatives answering emails. You can investigate the level of company customer support by checking the troubleshooting forum on their site and how responsive they are in answering queries.
There you have it, this is all you need to know about antivirus software and how to properly choose one that will serve you well. Remember to research many options of possible software companies before you make a decision, and keep narrowing down the list according to each one’s perks and disadvantages. You can install free versions of anti-virus software to try it out before spending any money on it to make sure it’s the right choice for you.
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