Are you aware that there is a kind of malware that hacks your computer and makes you pay to regain access to your files? It’s called ransomware, and in 2017 the WannaCry ransomware attack infected 110,000 users in its first hour, making it the biggest ransomware attack in history. 

Malware and viruses have become destructive and expensive hassles for professionals and companies all around the globe. There are many different types of malicious programs. Keep reading to learn all about the different types of Antivirus Software that mitigate these threats.

Different Types of Antivirus Software

There are two main types of antivirus software on the market. These are stand-alone antivirus or cloud-based antivirus software. Both can help detect threats and remove computer viruses, but they interact with your system in very different ways.

Stand-alone software can be downloaded and installed onto your device’s hard drive, and it can operate with or without an internet connection. This means that your device remains safe even if you lose connection. To make sure that the software keeps up with newer viruses, it still does need to download its periodic updates over the internet.

The alternative is cloud-based antivirus software. This software runs on your device from the internet itself, which means you need to be connected at all times for it to work. The upside of this type of software is that it’s constantly up to date and takes up very little space on your device.

Focussing On The Features Of Antivirus Software

Not every antivirus can counter all threats. It’s important to know what kind of protection you need so that you can choose the best antivirus based on the program’s features.

Quarantine And Removal

The main recommended feature is the quarantine and deleting function. You want your antivirus to be able to stop the virus from replicating by quarantining the program. Most virus protection deletes infected code automatically, but you do get software that asks permission first.

Threat Detection

The other basic element needed is a way to detect infected code. Most antiviruses have a scan function, but there’s also a behavior analytics component to some antivirus software. This checks if a program is performing unusual tasks in real-time, flags the program, and makes a recommendation.

Behavior analytics are capable of picking up some new threats even if they aren’t on the antivirus database. There are so many different kinds of viruses that it becomes necessary to have adaptive defenses. 

Web Protection

Most antiviruses also include some form of internet defense. This will protect your device from malware that can come from emails, illicit websites, and other internet-based threats.

Extra Features

Different types of antivirus software may also come with handy additional features such as password managers, crypto-wallets, VPNs, and identity theft protection.

Choosing Antivirus Software

Deciding on an antivirus requires that you consider your budget, your hardware, your threat level, and what kinds of threats you are more likely to encounter. Why pay more for a crypto-wallet feature if you aren’t trading in cryptocurrency? 

Know Your Enemy

It’s worth noting that an antivirus program works best as part of a broader protective strategy. There are additional precautions that users can take to further decrease their risk from cyber attacks.

One such step would be to learn how to identify malicious emails and fake advertising on websites. A workplace briefing or simply some extra reading about these steps is another great way to protect your systems.

Protect Your Devices Now

Whether it’s just a personal terminal or part of a business system, your computer is at risk if it doesn’t have some kind of antivirus. If learning about different types of antivirus software helped you, contact us today so that we can help set up your antivirus protection.