antivirus

The importance of having an antivirus

In recent decades, with the advancement of computer technology, computers have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. However, this dependence on digital devices brings with it a significant risk: attack by malicious software such as viruses, malware, Trojans and other types of cyber threats. In this context, antivirus emerges as one of the most critical tools for protect our computers. But what exactly is an antivirus for and why is it so important? First and foremost, an antivirus is designed to detect, prevent and remove malicious software that could compromise your computer’s performance or, even worse, steal personal and sensitive information. These malicious programs can infect your operating system, damage essential files, slow down your computer’s performance, and even block access to your device completely. An antivirus works through a number of protection mechanisms. It performs regular system scans to detect and isolate potential threats. These scans can be automatic, scheduled, or manually initiated by the user. During a scan, your antivirus examines your files, registry, and other critical areas of your computer for suspicious behavior or known malware signatures. Additionally, a good antivirus also offers real-time protection features. This means that it constantly monitors system activity and immediately blocks any malicious software before it can cause any damage. This proactive protection is essential to counteract emerging and unknown threats, as it does not rely only on pre-defined malware signatures. In addition to protection against viruses and malware, modern antiviruses often offer a range of additional features. These may include firewalls, web browsing protection, parental controls and tools to protect online privacy. These additional features help create a more secure computing environment and protect users from a wide range of online threats. In conclusion, an antivirus is essential for protecting computers from cyber attacks and keeping personal and sensitive information safe. Investing in a robust antivirus solution is a smart decision for all computer users, as it offers a vital defense against ever-growing digital threats.

How does an antivirus work?

Antiviruses perform multiple scans on incoming files and emails, with the aim of detecting malware and threats that could damage or tamper with your data. Furthermore, most antiviruses include firewalls which, by monitoring network traffic, prevent unauthorized access to your computer and, in doing so, guarantee the internal protection of your PC data. These systems also allow protection from websites malicious, including phishing sites, which are sites that try to illicitly obtain your personal information by having you enter sensitive data on spoofed web pages, often through links sent by email. Antivirus software developers constantly update their systems to always recognize more threats. This ensures that the software is always able to detect the latest malware variants.

Is it still necessary to install an antivirus?

A classic antivirus might have been fine twenty years ago, when their only job was to stop viruses. It was one virus at a time almost always attributable to a very specific operation. Now, however, the security landscape, or rather cyber attacks, has completely changed. Threats come from multiple fronts and security products must defend themselves from multiple threats simultaneously ( executables that go into memory, links present in chats or emails, web pages that contain malicious code, etc.) It is no longer (just) a question of identifying a virus, but of protecting data during web browsing, preventing the theft of identity and so on: there is a need to have a security system that acts as a 360 degree shield.

Here are 3 key security elements that a generic antivirus today cannot adequately address:

Update

Most antiviruses need signatures to detect the presence of a virus: when a new virus comes out, laboratories must analyze samples and develop an antidote (signatures) that allows antiviruses to recognize it and stop it.

Then that antidote must be made available and the various stations must download this update.

Nowadays viruses spread very quickly and, with the slowness of this process, it is impossible to have an antivirus that is always up to date and capable of intercepting the most recent threats.

The ideal would be to have an antivirus that does not require updates, i.e. that is always up to date.

Identity protection

Identity theft occurs when a hacker takes over your or your customers’ credentials to “steal something”: money, access to other systems, email, etc.

Beyond any stolen money, the problem with identity theft is that if a hacker committed a crime it would be as if you had committed it.

Statistics say that, every year, 15 million people in the United States experience identity theft which is then used to commit fraudulent actions.

Unfortunately, suffering identity theft is quite simple: all you need is for your PC to have a spyware or a keylogger and, even if you are browsing on a secure site, this program can intercept your online access codes as they are typed .

Without adequate protection you and your customers could also fall victim to actions of this type.

Privacy

Today it is the asset most at risk because everything is done online: purchases, banking transactions, communications of various types.

According to research, 91% of adults say they have lost control of where and how their personal data is collected and managed during online activities.

Products that do not have explicit privacy features cannot prevent an activity from being tracked.

Let’s take an example: you know when you search on the internet for a car, an iron or another object? You will notice banners and emails appearing on the walls that concern exactly the item you were looking for. It means that you are tracked. The problem isn’t so much tracking, but the fact that so much information is spread around that it can end up in the hands of bad guys.

Cybersecurity

In the first six months of 2022, there were 1,141 cyber attacks (+8.4% compared to the first half of 2021), with an average of 190 attacks per month and a peak of 225 attacks in March 2022, a value never reached before. This is what emerges from the recent CLUSIT report, which collects, compares and analyzes global data relating to cyber incidents over the last five years. In particular, the research shows that over 15,000 cyber incidents have occurred from 2011 to today; of these, over half (8,252) occurred in the last 4 and a half years. When compared to the first half of 2018, the attacks from January to June 2022 therefore increased by 53%.

These threats mainly affected the healthcare, public and financial sectors. Compared to the first half of 2021, in 2022 the greatest growth in the number of serious attacks is observed in the sectors: Multiservices (+108.3%), Telecommunications (+77.8%), Finance/Insurance (+76.7%) , News/Multimedia (+50%), Manufacturing (+34%), followed by Energy/Utilities (+5.3%) and Healthcare (+2.2%).
As regards the most affected regions, however, the data show that attacks towards Europe are increasing (26%, +5% compared to 2021, an absolute record), while those towards America are decreasing in percentage (38%, – 7%) and Asia (8%, -4%). Italy is particularly affected, probably due to the large number of small and medium-sized enterprises that make up the majority of the country’s economic fabric and which have neither the knowledge nor the means for effective IT protection. Above all, they do not have adequate insurance coverage that can protect their business from damage caused by cyber attacks and data security breaches.

Now more than ever it is essential to work to ensure that all companies can defend themselves from cyber threats through specific regulations, affordable prices and an insurance offer tailored to cyber risks. In fact, although investments in cybersecurity in Italy have grown to 1.55 billion euros in 2021¹, 1 million 653 thousand SMEs (40%) are not insured². If on the one hand large companies are increasing their cyber security budget, on the other, SMEs do not have the same possibility, thus making the entire country more vulnerable to cyber thr

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What are the best antiviruses in 2024?

Kaspersky: being a free version it does not include all the features reserved for the paid versions such as privacy protection and all the secure payment tools. In any case, it is easy to use and guarantees effective protection without beating around the bush. With Kaspersky, trojans and viruses are on the clock! However, considering the affordability of the paid packages and the many additional features, you could really consider the upgrade.
Avast: In its latest edition, it has updated the interface and added an automatic gaming mode (reduces system load when starting a resource-intensive game). It also offers a password manager. The only flaw, unfortunately it is not very fast and the issue of pop-ups should be resolved.
Avira: identified by an umbrella on a red background, Avira is one of the historic antiviruses for Windows. The new version is among the best ever made, with a refined and feature-rich interface that at the same time remains relatively light on resources. Bitdefender : offers virus and malware scanning and removal, active real-time protection, anti-phising web filter to avoid theft of sensitive data, anti-fraud system to recognize scam sites (online casinos, pornographic sites, loan programs and others) and even a password manager.
AVG: in terms of protection and threat database, it has nothing to envy of the other software listed here. Maybe it’s a little heavier, but the interface is on average more polished and intuitive. The free version is more than enough to add a nice degree of protection to your PC as it includes: blocking viruses, spyware and malware, checking email attachments, downloaded files and links, monitoring system performance, plus on-time updates real. If you have a relatively powerful PC, we recommend you give it a try. You download it from here.
Windows Defender: the antivirus that arrives integrated on Windwos 10. This is the basic solution that running in the background keeps the PC safe from the most serious and important threats. Obviously it is completely free, but it is not as complete as dedicated software. In fact, the scan is not promptly effective against 100% of threats. Using Windows Defender is therefore only advisable for expert users who do not need the most powerful of protections (don’t rely only on this tool on the PCs of people less accustomed to technology). You can access this feature of Windows 10 by opening the settings (Win +I), pressing on “Update and security” and then on “Windows Defender”.

The best paid antiviruses?

Norton Antivirus

The name Norton has always been synonymous with reliability and efficiency. There are four paid versions on the market that offer many features:

Norton Antivirus Plus: This version of Norton offers an intelligent firewall, a world-class browsing protection system, a PC maintenance utility, 2 GB of cloud backup and a VPN.

Norton 360 Standard: compared to the previous version, it offers integrated VPN, 10 GB of cloud backup and mobile app for Android and iOS.

Norton 360 Deluxe: if you need an antivirus to protect multiple devices, this version of Norton could be right for you, in fact it is capable of protecting up to five devices with the addition of parental controls.

Norton 360 Premium: if the previous versions were not enough, the ideal would be to opt for Norton 360 Premium which basically does not add any features, but enhances many of the services already offered by the previous versions (protects up to 10 devices and offers 75 GB cloud backup).

Kaspersky

Kaspersky is an antivirus that gets straight to the point: fast scans and great anti-malware functionality. There are three paid versions on the market:

Kaspersky Anti-Virus: This is the basic package. Provides coverage for five Windows PCs focusing on key security aspects. In some ways, it offers fewer features than the competition, but as they say, good things come in small packages.

Kaspersky Internet Security: with this version, Kaspersky takes a huge step forward thanks to the intelligent firewall combined with a secure browser to manage banking transactions. An optimal solution for Windows PCs, Macs and mobile devices.

Kaspersky Total Security: it’s the crown jewel. This version adds a password manager, parental controls and an automated local backup mechanism to the services. Considering these extra features, the quality/price ratio of this package proves to be excellent.

MacAfee

McAfee is a veteran of the antivirus community. Unfortunately, there are no free versions for McAfee Antivirus (there is only a thirty-day free trial). McAfee Total Protection offers 360° protection as it detects and repels all recurring threats: viruses and various malware such as ransomware, spyware, adware. Additionally, this version offers an excellent VPN (for browsing incognito) and a password manager (ideal for saving credentials safely and securely). An important thing not to be underestimated is its compatibility with Windows,

macOS, Android and iOS.