It is important to have an excellent antivirus software package that can protect your computer from threats while browsing the internet. Viruses, malware, ransomware, and phishing threats are potential dangers when you’re online, even if you think you’re being careful. New threats appear every day, which is why many antivirus software manufacturers take a holistic approach, protecting your system from all kinds of potential threats, not just the obvious ones.
There’s no shortage of options out there to protect your system from viral threats, but it’s important to have the right solution for you. Free apps are of course available, but they usually offer far fewer features and can sometimes be updated less frequently and reliably than paid antivirus software. In general, you get what you pay for, and when it comes to keeping your computer safe from security threats, who wants to skimp on protection?
A dangerous virus or piece of ransomware can lock you out of your system, meaning that if you don’t have a reliable backup, you could lose bank details, private documents and personal photos that can never be recovered. Fortunately, if you install the right paid antivirus software, you won’t have to worry about it being a problem.
How to unblock Netflix with a VPN
It’s worth remembering that although it may seem like installing multiple antivirus software applications is the best solution, this often causes problems. A much better idea is to pick one and glue it so they don’t collide with each other. Today, many threats arise from phishing attempts, such as scam emails or websites masquerading as something trustworthy. The best paid antivirus software appreciates this, so it looks for anything that might be suspicious as well as more obvious virus files.
It’s also important that your antivirus software has on-demand malware scanning, as well as checks for vulnerabilities along the way. That way, he can catch issues before they develop. Some paid antivirus software also detects files behaving suspiciously, giving you a heads up so you can determine whether you want to trust it or not. Viruses and security issues move quickly, so this is a great method to ensure that potential issues are caught even before a new virus is officially identified.
I have a Mac. Do I need antivirus software?
Many people tout Macs as impenetrable fortresses when it comes to viruses and other such issues, but they are wrong. While the Mac is generally more secure than PCs — Apple’s software and hardware are all in-house, where Windows tends to have security vulnerabilities because they work with multiple manufacturers — that doesn’t mean they’re invincible(Opens in a new tab). Although smaller than computers, there are still holes in the system that they can penetrate.
So yes, if you have a Mac, that doesn’t mean you should immediately write off getting a premium antivirus software package. Many Mac users who have the idea that they can’t be affected by malware tend to skip antivirus software because they feel they don’t need it and malicious hackers have figured it out. As a result, Mac users are more targeted than ever(Opens in a new tab) when it comes to cyber attacks. (We have a collection of antivirus software *only* for Mac users as well.)
Don’t be part of that statistic. Protect your computer, whether it’s a PC the a Mac.
Viruses, malware and ransomware
There are slight differences between them, but they’re worth knowing so you can spot problems more easily as they arise. Like all squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles it’s square, all viruses and ransomware are malware, but not all malware is viruses or ransomware. I got it? No? So, let’s go a little deeper.
Malware, which is a term used for malicious software, covers any software intended to cause harm to a computer, server, network, or the user himself. This ranges from the seemingly harmless nuisance like pop-up ads to the truly dangerous situations like webcam hacking (maybe get a webcam cover, just to be safe).
Now that we’ve established the malware umbrella, we can understand what a virus is. Viruses are a form of malware that reproduces themselves, essentially causing an “infection” on your computer (hence a “virus”). Viruses can be detected by things like email attachments, links with dangerous code embedded in them, disguised pop-ups and downloads that have not been properly scanned.
Ransomware is another form of malware that has a different purpose than a virus. A ransomware attack blocks access to a particular system until a “ransom” is paid, effectively creating a hostage situation. Average computer users don’t have to worry as much about ransomware, as these types of attacks usually target larger institutions and businesses that have a lot of capital.
A good antivirus software package will work to combat all of these things, and while it still won’t make your device 100% impervious to attack, it will give you enough protection and peace of mind to keep your worries at bay. about getting hacked all the time.
Also get a VPN
If you’re using a public network of any capacity, a VPN is great to have around, and many antivirus software packages include it. Unsecured public networks are a hacker’s dream, which you can find in places like coffee shops, airports, hotels and more. Since connecting to public networks requires no authentication, hackers can easily get in and wreak all kinds of havoc.
Fortunately, VPNs add a layer of encryption that most public networks don’t — they connect you to a secure server and give you an extra layer of protection around your data. The next time you’re on a public network, a secure VPN can protect you from people eavesdropping on your emails, stealing personal information, or sending you malware. Plus, they’re great for watching Netflix exclusives that are specific to other countries, as a little bonus.
Password managers — are they necessary?
Many of us do: We repeat the same password for every single account we create, or at least some variation of that password. Although it’s the most convenient option since you don’t have a billion passwords to remember at all times, it can also be very dangerous. Think about it — if a hacker can gain access to your master password (which isn’t that hard, FYI), they can then gain access to anything you’ve used that password for, whether it’s your Amazon account or your your online banking information. Bad news.
There is a password manager(Opens in a new tab) is coming, and most antivirus software packages thankfully include them. A password manager has the ability to store all your passwords in one place so you don’t have to remember them, which means you can create a completely new and unique one every time you need it without worrying about losing it. This will do way harder for anyone trying to access any of your multiple online accounts, which is better for you in every way.
So, what is the best antivirus software?
There are a lot of options out there, but we’ve been able to narrow it down to eight packages that we think are worth checking out. Here are our top picks for the best antivirus solutions, regardless of your network situation: