What Is an Antivirus and How Do I Use It? Free Antivirus Software

To browse the internet safely and to protect computer systems, antivirus software is an excellent ally. Even though it is rare today to find a business or freelance user that does not have anti-virus software, some may not yet understand its importance and use. This article provides you with practical information so you can get the most out of antivirus software to secure your computer systems.

WHY INSTALL AN ANTIVIRUS?

Antivirus is a program whose main purpose is to detect, neutralize or eradicate malware from infected computers and other computing devices. It also plays a preventative role by preventing viruses from infecting and harming computer systems.

By way of illustration, a system without an antivirus is like a house with an open and unprotected door. This will definitely attract burglars and unwanted intruders. This is also the case with an unprotected computer: it can be infected with any type of malicious computer program.

An antivirus will act like a closed door, with a security guard, thus protecting your system from all kinds of attacks. It protects you against several types of malware like viruses, worms, and malware .

The Damage That an Unprotected System Can Suffer

Protegent360 Free Antivirus Software Web Antivirus detected 2.6 million threats. It is enormous. Without these detections and the protection offered by this and other software, infection of a computer system can result in:

reformatting the hard drive;

loss of data through deletion  ;

file corruption;

computer slowdown  ;

the inability of users to work ...

It should also be noted that if a virus attacks your system, you can potentially spread it to your relatives (friends, colleagues, families, etc.) through the exchange of infected files. In addition, at the professional level, this can lead to a drop in productivity in the company . For all this, the installation of an antivirus is an absolute necessity.

The Advantages of an Antivirus

In addition to protecting against viruses and their spread, an antivirus can help you block spam and unwanted advertisements, channels many viruses use to penetrate computers . Antiviruses also provide protection against infections from removable devices such as USB keys.

In addition, the antivirus defends the IS of companies against hackers and data thieves . According to 2016 statistics, a computer attack by a virus or other malicious program can cost an average of 773,000 euros to a company.

Hackers can use all kinds of malware to gain access to corporate computers through various kinds of vulnerabilities. A company can thus have confidential or sensitive data stolen. A hacker can also blackmail the owner by demanding a ransom through ransomware.

Direct or collateral damage can cause the owner to go bankrupt or close. In such a context, having antivirus software contributes to the sustainability of a company's activities.

HOW DOES AN ANTIVIRUS WORK?

The risks to a company's computer system are enormous in the internet and digital age. For this, antivirus software has evolved a lot in order to respond to current security challenges. They fulfill a very important double mission. They ensure the careful analysis of files stored in computers and can monitor devices in real time for any unusual activity.

Generally, antivirus software uses three detection processes which are very effective:

specific detection  ;

generic detection  ;

heuristic detection .

Specific detection is the most classic. When malware attacks your system, the antivirus installed on it will first check your various computer programs. Then it compares them with a database containing the signatures of known malware types.

Generic detection is a process that allows the search for viruses that are known variants of another malicious program or that are linked to it by a common code base.

The most powerful method is heuristic analysis. It allows the detection of possible unknown viruses by your protection software. For this, the analysis of the code of the unknown program is done while for example simulating its operation.

HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR ANTIVIRUS?

There are plenty of free and paid antivirus programs out there. Besides desktops and laptops, they can be used on smartphones and tablets. Free antiviruses are generally of little use to businesses because of their limited functionality .

It is better to choose the paid versions (by monthly or annual subscription) to take advantage of additional features. The most interesting are automatic updates, real-time scanning, activation of a firewall and password managers. Some software provides users with a one-month trial. So you can take advantage of it to evaluate an antivirus application that interests you .

To make a choice that suits your needs, you can use online comparators. Guides that rank the best corporate antiviruses, based on technical testing results, are also helpful. Using a computer security company is a more practical solution for many businesses.

SOME TIPS TO BETTER USE YOUR ANTIVIRUS

To better protect your computer systems, do not try to install more than one antivirus . Doing so will be detrimental to you, as often the antivirus packages will mistakenly detect each other as malware. Therefore, they will attempt to block each other thus leaving the device unprotected.

There are no effective methods to protect systems against 100% of malware threats. This is even more true if the devices are often connected to the internet. Cybercrime is constantly evolving. To do this, in order to keep pace, the companies that publish antivirus software regularly update their databases. So do not hesitate to update your computer protection software as soon as they are available.

Finally, keep in mind that antivirus alone is not enough to deal with threats and protect your computer. Your team must adopt preventive actions on a daily basis:

Use strong passwords and renew them regularly ;

Don't click on shady links on the internet;

Do not connect any USB key to work computers;

Use only programs recommended by experts ...

In addition, highly secure digital file storage and sharing solutions must be adopted. The NetExplorer platform offers you an extremely protected platform in the Cloud to guarantee the security of your data.

WHAT TO REMEMBER?

In conclusion, antiviruses are arguably one of the best solutions businesses can count on to protect themselves from malware attacks and their consequences. They are more and more sophisticated and offer a high level of security. Also, don't forget to take preventative measures and use reliable solutions like NetExplorer for managing, sharing and storing your digital files .