Articles about Antivirus

A lot of people rely on Windows Defender to protect their systems, it's free and installed by default so why not?

Defender uses a blacklisting approach to stop threats. Before allowing a file to execute, it will compare it against its database of known threats and stop it from executing if it's on there. However, researchers at SafeBreach have uncovered an exploit that can allow threats to be removed from the database.

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While 75 percent of organizations have made significant strides to upgrade their infrastructure in the past year and 78 percent have increased their security budgets, only two percent of industry experts are confident in their security strategies, according to a new report.

The study, from critical infrastructure protection specialist OPSWAT, also finds most organizations have embraced public cloud hosting for their web applications, with an overwhelming 97 percent already employing or planning to implement containerization.

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A new report on the antivirus market from Security.org reveals that almost three-quarters of Americans still strongly believe computers need antivirus to protect their devices and 61 percent are relying on free options like Microsoft Defender.

The number relying on free solutions has held steady, down only one point since 2021. Interestingly, only eight percent of free antivirus users have experienced a breakthrough virus in the past year, compared to 10 percent of paid users.

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John McAfee was a British-American software engineer who founded one of the most prominent anti-virus companies in the world. The self-titled McAfee Associates, Inc. released its first anti-virus program in 1987, under the simple name 'VirusScan.' Before that, McAfee had previously worked for such notables as NASA, Xerox and Lockheed. 

Of course, he became much more notable in his later life, with two failed runs for the Libertarian Party’s presidential nomination in 2016 and 2020, and began his road to trouble by announcing in 2019 that he believed taxes were illegal and stated that he hadn’t filed a tax return since 2010. 

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Surfshark is one of the best VPNs on the market for several reasons -- not just its affordable pricing and reliability. The service is cross-platform and available on all major operating systems, including Windows, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and Android. In fact, there is even a Linux version of Surfshark (with a GUI) for Debian-based distributions and derivatives, such as Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and Pop!_OS.

Recently, Surfshark added an antivirus service at no added cost, making it even more of an incredible value. However, people were understandably hesitant to depend on a brand-new antivirus service to protect their computers and devices. Well, folks, it seems any concerns were unwarranted. You see, today, Surfshark announces it has received the coveted VB100 certification from Virus Bulletin.

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One of the frequent complaints people make about security software is that it slows the performance of your system.

But how much difference does it really make? Independent testing organization AV-Comparatives has been carrying out some research to find out.

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Launched last year, Avast One aimed to offer a comprehensive protection suite with both free and paid for editions.

The company has now announced significant enhancements to the product, with new features designed to protect people from online scams, fraud, and other personal privacy threats.

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While security apps may not be the software that everyone gets excited about, there is no getting away from their importance. Despite this, there are a couple of things that stop many people from investigating security solutions. Firstly, modern version of Windows include protective features, and secondly there is the concern about additional cost.

With the newly updated Bitdefender Antivirus Free for Windows, both of these concerns are rendered moot. Not only is the software completely free of charge, the features and options it offers go far beyond anything Microsoft has provided with Windows. This latest version is notable for various reasons, not least of which is the fact that it has been completely re-engineered and re-architectured.

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Antivirus software was one of the earliest cybersecurity solutions, with the first commercial programs appearing in the 1980s, and it remains at the core of protecting computer systems today.

But as threats evolve and become more sophisticated, does traditional antivirus still have a role to play or will it be overtaken by technologies like artificial intelligence?

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I’ve used many different antivirus programs over the years, but these days I swear by the excellent Bitdefender Total Security. Not everyone wants to pay for protection of course, which is why free solutions prove so popular.

Bitdefender’s no-cost offering -- Antivirus Free Edition for Windows -- is a great choice, or rather I should say 'was' a great choice, as the company is set to retire it by the end of the year.

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Microsoft is set to begin rolling out Windows 11 next week. For the most part, any programs you run on Windows 10 should run just fine on the new OS, although there will be exceptions.

Antivirus and security solutions are not all certified yet and installing security software that hasn't been fully tested with the new operating system could prove disastrous. Don't worry though, as antivirus testing service AV-Comparatives has done the hard work for you and today releases a list of "approved" security software. Is yours on the list?

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Just how bulletproof is your security package? Sadly, even the most reputable names are occasionally caught flat-footed by a new threat. If you’re serious about protecting your computer, you’ll leap at the chance to add a secondary layer of protection that works in tandem with your main package to catch threats that are missed (or ignored).

The good news is that Malwarebytes 4.0 stands ready and waiting to answer the call for reinforcements. And we’ve got a mouth-watering deal that will enable you to protect up to five devices -- Windows, Mac and Android -- in your household for the next two years -- all for under $30!

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Released at the same time as the company undergoes a redesign involving a new logo, Avast One is here to help keep you protected online. This is more than just an antivirus tool -- although an AV component is present -- this is a comprehensive suite of protective tools covering various aspects of security and privacy.

Things start off with Avast One Essentials, which is the free version of the security suite. For anyone with concerns about privacy, even this free version includes a powerful VPN with a generous weekly allowance. There is also protection against spyware, password theft and identity theft. And there is even more to explore in the paid-for editions.

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Everyone needs some form of protection against online threats, and while Windows has tightened its security over the years, it still only offers basic protection. For those looking for additional layers of protection, such as a more configurable firewall or proactive protection against ransomware, then a paid-for security product is a must.

In a crowded marketplace, it can be hard to separate the wheat from the chaff, but one product that continues to score highly in independent tests is the powerful Bitdefender Total Security 25.0.

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Kaspersky’s rollout of its 2021 product line has reached European shores with the release of Kaspersky Internet Security 2021, Kaspersky Total Security 2021, and Kaspersky Security Cloud 2021 Free. The latter is a brand-new entry package into the company’s new cloud-based security product line.

There are several new features of note including major improvements to its 'stalkerware' detection tool in Internet Security and Total Security as well as access to the free version of Kaspersky Password Manager in lower-end packages. Security Cloud users also gain automatic checks of potentially compromised online accounts, while the recently introduced Kaspersky VPN component gains a major UI overhaul and more efficient connection process.

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