Today we use internet-connected devices in all aspects of our lives. We go online to search for information, shop, bank, do homework, play games, and stay in touch with family and friends through social networking. As a result, our devices contain a wealth of personal information about us. This may include banking and other financial records, and medical information—information that we want to protect. If your devices are not protected, identity thieves and other fraudsters may be able to get access and steal your personal information. Spammers could use your computer as a "zombie drone" to send spam that looks like it came from you. Malicious viruses or spyware could be deposited on your computer, slowing it down or destroying files. Show
By using safety measures and good practices to protect your devices, you can protect your privacy and your family. The following tips are offered to help you lower your risk while you're online. Keep your device secureMake sure to download recommended updates from your device's manufacturer or operating system provider, especially for important software such as your internet browser. Antivirus software, antispyware software, and firewalls are also important tools to thwart attacks on your device. Keep up-to-dateUpdate your system, browser, and important apps regularly, taking advantage of automatic updating when it's available. These updates can eliminate software flaws that allow hackers to view your activity or steal information. Windows Update is a service offered by Microsoft. It will download and install software updates to the Microsoft Windows Operating System, Internet Explorer, Outlook Express, and will also deliver security updates to you. Patching can also be run automatically for other systems, such as Macintosh Operating System. For mobile devices, be sure to install Android or iPhone updates that are distributed automatically. Antivirus softwareAntivirus software protects your device from viruses that can destroy your data, slow down or crash your device, or allow spammers to send email through your account. Antivirus protection scans your files and your incoming email for viruses, and then deletes anything malicious. You must keep your antivirus software updated to cope with the latest "bugs" circulating the internet. Most antivirus software includes a feature to download updates automatically when you are online. In addition, make sure that the software is continually running and checking your system for viruses, especially if you are downloading files from the web or checking your email. Set your antivirus software to check for viruses every day. You should also give your system a thorough scan at least twice a month. Antispyware softwareSpyware is software installed without your knowledge or consent that can monitor your online activities and collect personal information while you're online. Some kinds of spyware, called keyloggers, record everything you key in—including your passwords and financial information. Signs that your device may be infected with spyware include a sudden flurry of ads, being taken to websites you don't want to go to, and generally slowed performance. Spyware protection is included in some antivirus software programs. Check your antivirus software documentation for instructions on how to activate the spyware protection features. You can buy separate antispyware software programs. Keep your antispyware software updated and run it regularly. To avoid spyware in the first place, download software only from sites you know and trust. Make sure apps you install on a mobile device come from the Apple App Store for iPhones or Google Play for Android devices. FirewallsA firewall is a software program or piece of hardware that blocks hackers from entering and using your computer. Hackers search the internet the way some telemarketers automatically dial random phone numbers. They send out pings (calls) to thousands of computers and wait for responses. Firewalls prevent your computer from responding to these random calls. A firewall blocks communications to and from sources you don't permit. This is especially important if you have a high-speed internet connection, like DSL or cable. Some operating systems have built-in firewalls that may be shipped in the "off" mode. Be sure to turn your firewall on. To be effective, your firewall must be set up properly and updated regularly. Check your online "Help" feature for specific instructions. Use strong protectionMaking use of complex passwords and strong methods of authentication can help keep your personal information secure. Choose strong passwordsProtect your devices and accounts from intruders by choosing passwords that are hard to guess. Use strong passwords with at least eight characters, a combination of letters, numbers and special characters. Don't use a word that can easily be found in a dictionary or any reference to personal information, such as a birthday. Some hackers use programs that can try every word in the dictionary, and can easily find personal information such as dates of birth. Try using a phrase to help you remember your password, using the first letter of each word in the phrase. For example, HmWc@w2—How much wood could a woodchuck chuck. Choose unique passwords for each online account you use: financial institution, social media, or email. If you have too many passwords to remember, consider using password manager software, which can help you create strong individual passwords and keep them secure. Use stronger authenticationMany social media, email, and financial accounts allow the use of stronger authentication methods. These methods can include using a fingerprint, one-time codes sent to a mobile device, or other features that ensure a user is supposed to have access to the account. For more information on strong authentication methods, visit the Lock Down Your Login Campaign. Protect your private informationWhile checking email, visiting websites, posting to social media, or shopping, pay attention to where you click and who you give your information to. Unscrupulous websites or data thieves can attempt to trick you into giving them your personal data. Be careful what you clickPhishing attacks—where hackers send seemingly genuine messages to trick you to hand over personal information—are becoming more sophisticated. For instance, you may receive an urgent message stating that your bank account has been locked and requiring you to enter your password and Social Security number to unlock it. Think twice before clicking on links in messages such as this. Most genuine messages from financial institutions will not ask for personal information directly, but will instead instruct you to call or visit a website directly. You can also verify the email address that sent the message to ensure it came from the expected sender. Shop safelyWhen shopping online, check out the website before entering your credit card number or other personal information. Read the privacy policy and look for opportunities to opt out of information sharing. (If there is no privacy policy posted, beware! Shop elsewhere.) Learn how to tell when a website is secure. Look for "https" in the address bar or an unbroken padlock icon at the bottom of the browser window. These are signs that your information will be encrypted or scrambled, protecting it from hackers as it moves across the internet. Be careful what you shareSocial media allows sharing of all aspects of life, but it's important to control who has access to the information you share. Information thieves can use social media postings to gather information and then use the information to hack into other accounts or for identity theft. To protect yourself, make use of privacy settings to limit the visibility of personal posts to your personal networks, and restrict the amount of information you share with the general public. Responding to data breachesEven if you make all the right moves, your data may be stolen from a company you trusted to keep it safe. If you find that your personal information has been accessed without your authorization, take steps to protect yourself. Place a fraud alert on your credit file. Review your annual credit reports. And if you suspect your information has been breached, put a freeze on your credit file to prevent fraudsters from opening new accounts in your name. For more information, see the Attorney General's information sheets on identity theft. Parents, take controlDon't let your children risk your family's privacy. Make sure they know how to use the internet safely. For younger children, install parental control software on devices that limits the websites kids can visit. To protect your children's future credit, consider setting up a credit freeze for your child. But remember: no software can substitute for parental supervision. Additional InformationConsumer information from the California Department of Justice, available at www.oag.ca.gov/privacy. OnGuard OnlinePractical tips from the federal government and the technology industry to help you be on guard against internet fraud, secure your computer, and protect your personal information. Online Guide to Practical Privacy ToolsComputer security resources from the non-profit Electronic Privacy Information Center.
Antivirus software is supposed to protect your devices. Ever wonder how it does that?
Antivirus software is one of the most important weapons you can have in your arsenal to protect your device. With attacks on your devices becoming more sophisticated, it’s important to know just how antivirus software works. Only then can you make informed choices about which products are right for you. Antivirus software usually works on one of two principles: Either it scans programs and files as they enter your device and compares them to known viruses, or it scans programs already on your device, looking for any suspicious behavior. In addition, most antivirus software features tools to either remove or quarantine the offending malware. As the name indicates, antivirus software is software designed to combat viruses. It does that through a three-part system:
As we point out in our digital security guide, your device needs protection from malware in order to stay healthy. In fact, malware threats are more pervasive now than ever. From 2009 to 2019, for example, malware infections increased from over 12 million to over 812 million, an increase of more than 6,500 percent.1 As a result of this rise, many devices now come pre-installed with antivirus and/or anti-malware software. The problem is that these programs don’t usually cover all the threats out there. You may still be vulnerable to phishing, adware, and email scams. Ultimately, you still need antivirus software even if your device has some built-in security features. Do Windows 10 Devices Need Antivirus?Windows has long been the primary target for malware, if for no other reason than that there are far more Windows devices in use than any other kind of computer. In fact, as of December 2020, over 76 percent of all computers worldwide were running some version of Windows.2 It’s no surprise, then, that the AV-Test Institute registers 350,000 new pieces of malware and potentially unwanted applications (PUAs) aimed specifically at Windows devices every day.3 Because of this large number of threats, Windows 10 has built-in antivirus software called Windows Defender (or Microsoft Defender Antivirus). Obviously, this package offers some protection against malware. However, Defender doesn’t make our own list of the best antivirus software. For one thing, it doesn’t include endpoint protection. It also lacks automated investigation and remediation. The bottom line is, even if you have Defender, you’ll want to supplement it with additional protection from our list of the best antivirus software for Windows. Kaspersky Antivirus App Scan MenuDo Macs Need Antivirus?There are significantly fewer Macs in the world than Windows devices. Compared to Windows’ 76 percent global market share, Macs’ market share is just over 16 percent.4 As a result, Macs aren’t as big a target for hackers. In addition, all Macs contain two specific features designed to help prevent malware:
However, things are changing, as we point out in our guide to Mac antivirus. Probably the most important of these changes is that Macs are becoming more popular. In fact, Mac shipments grew by over 40 percent in 2020.5 As they have become a larger force in the market, they have become a bigger target for hackers. In its 2021 report, Malwarebytes found over 75 million threats aimed specifically at Macs.6 With those kinds of numbers, it certainly can’t hurt to add third-party antivirus. After all, Macs, for all their security features, still have vulnerabilities. In particular, they don’t block all adware or PUPs (potentially unwanted programs). Our page on the best antivirus for Macs offers excellent suggestions on how you can patch these vulnerabilities and protect against a rising tide of malware. Do Chromebooks Need Antivirus?Like Macs, Chromebooks aren’t as popular with the public as Windows, with only a 2 percent market share worldwide, so hackers don’t spend as much time making malware for them. In addition, Chromebooks take an entirely different approach from their competitors to dealing with malware. The Chromebook OS is based on the open-source, relatively bug-free Linux system. In addition, Chromebooks have several built-in security features. Among these, their “sandboxing” feature keeps every app and webpage separate from the rest of the computer so that if any trouble should arrive, it is completely isolated. Even so, as we note in our guide to Chromebooks and antivirus, Chromebooks have vulnerabilities. They are especially susceptible to phishing schemes, insecure websites, scam apps, and fake browser extensions. Security-conscious users might want to purchase antivirus software that addresses these issues. Webroot Chrome ExtensionDo Androids Need Antivirus?In general, mobile devices are safer from viruses than PCs and laptops are.7 This is partly because they are more exclusively devoted to apps. Android devices, for example, encourage users to get their apps only from the Google Play Store, and Google checks its apps for malware before posting them for download. In addition, Android devices use Chrome as their default browser, and Chrome has built-in security protections. However, Android users have more freedom to download apps from third-party vendors than iOS users do. As we note in our discussion of removing Android viruses, such apps can come infected with malware. Additionally, because of the enormous bulk of app submissions Google receives, apps containing malware have made it through the screening process into the Google Play Store. Early in 2020, for instance, Google issued warnings about dozens of different apps available from its library.8 The fact is, with numbers like that, you need to install one of the best Android antiviruses on your mobile device. Do iOS Devices Need Antivirus?Apple’s mobile devices, iPads and iPhones, are the only devices that don’t need antivirus software. Every app you download and install on your iOS device must come directly from the App Store. Since Apple rigorously screens these apps, it is theoretically impossible for you to download anything containing malware onto these devices. In addition, like Chromebooks, iOS devices isolate every app so that a virus can’t spread from one device to another. While “antivirus” and “anti-malware” don’t technically mean the same thing, people often use them interchangeably these days. In its original sense, “antivirus” refers to a specific kind of software, one designed only to prevent viruses. “Virus” means a program that replicates itself by attacking other programs and taking them over.9 “Malware” is a more general term for any kind of damaging software. A virus is a kind of malware, but not all kinds of malware are viruses. As our guide to antivirus protection points out, these are some other types of malware: Originally, the term “virus” referred to a specific class of malware that infects a device and replicates itself, attacking other programs and inserting its own code. Typically, it changes the way these programs behave. Because its behavior resembles the way viruses attack humans, early programmers decided they should call it a “virus.” Ransomware is another kind of malware that attacks devices.10 As the name implies, its goal is to collect ransoms from users. Once it infects a device, it can lock down programs and files by encrypting them so users can’t access them. It can even lock users out of their devices entirely, no encryption needed. Users then receive messages offering them decryption codes or control of their devices in exchange for ransom money. Antivirus and anti-malware software use various methods to detect and prevent malware from infecting your device, such as these:
Antivirus software is a valuable defense against hackers. Many hacking attacks use malware to steal your PII (personally identifiable information) or to hold your files and programs for ransom. Good anti-malware software can prevent these kinds of attacks. However, hackers have other means of stealing your information, such as intercepting your internet connection, another access point to your PII. This means that, while you need antivirus software to protect yourself, you need other important tools as well, like a VPN. For a list of ways to protect yourself from identity theft and hackers, check out our article on how antivirus stops hackers. As you might expect, different antivirus packages come with different features. For example, some software offers only signature-based detection, while others include both signature- and behavior-based detection. These are some other important features to look for in antivirus software:
Essentially, an antivirus does one of two things when it encounters a virus:
Generally speaking, you should be able to trust reputable antivirus software to protect your device from malware. However, there are reasons to be cautious about trusting your antivirus completely, such as these:
How can you tell whether to trust your antivirus?
An antivirus false positive is when an antivirus misidentifies healthy code as tainted. In some cases, the antivirus may even delete programs or files that your device needs in order to function. Such false positives can cause just as many headaches as malware. In late 2011, for example, Microsoft Defender Antivirus misidentified the Chrome browser as malware and sent a message to users suggesting they remove the offending program.13 Detection is the core of what antivirus software does. The better a program can detect malware, the better it protects your computer. That’s why detection is the aspect of antivirus software that has evolved the most over the years. Early programs, for instance, tried to match incoming files to known viruses. Later versions of antivirus used sophisticated algorithms to detect malware tendencies. Many programs can now detect malware based on how a file behaves, and most software employs a combination of these methods for maximum detection. In sum, an antivirus’s detection rate should be a key number in your decision of which program to purchase and install. “IT” refers to the percentage of malware it detects in controlled tests. While this rate can’t tell you whether the antivirus can stop every piece of malware, it can give you a general sense of the software’s effectiveness. Of course, every antivirus works slightly differently, and this means they have different rates of detection, some better and some worse than others. Typically, because antivirus software is constantly under development, no single antivirus stays on top when it comes to detection rates. Instead, the top companies regularly change places with one another. The best way to keep track of who is on top at any given time is to visit AV-Comparatives.org. This independent website tests all antiviruses on the market regularly and rates them on their ability to detect viruses and other kinds of malware.14 In addition to visiting AV-Comparatives.org, you can run your own tests on your antivirus software. To do so, simply visit EICAR.org and download the EICAR file, which mimics malware. You can download it, run it, and see if your antivirus catches it without putting your computer in real danger.15 In addition, you can check out our complete list of the best antivirus software to see how different packages stack up to one another. VIPRE Customer SupportAntivirus software can slow down your devices. For one thing, it needs the device’s processing power in order to scan for malware, so whenever you’re running a scan, you’ll likely experience slowdowns. In addition, the antivirus software uses resources when it has to update its virus definitions. If you have your antivirus set for continual updates, this can cause lags. Fortunately, most antivirus programs allow you to tinker with the settings, which can speed things up significantly. We recommend following these steps:
Quality antivirus software can have numerous benefits for your device:
There are many elements to consider when you’re deciding which antivirus software is right for you. We’ve outlined a number of them below.
As we’ve mentioned, there are lots of antivirus options on the market, even free ones. Prices vary considerably and depend on what you want as well as what kind of commitment you’re willing to make. In general, you can get a good antivirus for around $40 with a one-year contract. One quick way to compare prices is to check out our complete list of antivirus prices. Virus Definitions Up to Date Avast AntivirusA simple internet search will turn up dozens of free antivirus packages. Just how good are these free versions, and should you consider downloading one if you’re short on cash? As it happens, there are some free antivirus programs that offer decent, basic protection against common viruses and malware. Kaspersky, Bitdefender, and Avast, for example, all offer solid free versions of their software. You should know, though, that paid software almost always offers more in-depth protection than free versions. These are some common limitations of free antivirus software:
Follow these steps if you’re looking for antivirus software:
What happens should your antivirus expire? Well, that depends on the particular antivirus. Some parts of the software may continue to work, while others will immediately shut down. For example, you can still run scans with some products even after they’ve expired. However, in every case, the regular updates to the virus database will stop. Without the updates, the scanner won’t do a lot of good, since it won’t be able to catch the most recent versions of malware. Often, the antivirus app itself will include a button that allows you to renew easily, even if your subscription has expired. If that’s not the case, you’ll probably need to return to the website where you first bought the software and repurchase it. While antivirus software is an important tool for keeping your device safe, your device can still be vulnerable even with an antivirus installed and running. So what are some other ways to protect your device?
Kaspersky VPN – Mac App On Almost all antivirus packages these days offer convenient ways to delete or quarantine malware. However, there are also ways to remove malware manually without antivirus software. How To Remove Viruses on Windows Devices
How To Remove Viruses on Macs
How To Remove Viruses on Android Devices
Antivirus software scans your device for malware and, once it detects it, deletes or quarantines it. While many devices now come with some antivirus software pre-installed, it’s always a good idea to consider additional software to cover any vulnerabilities. Finally, keep in mind that an antivirus doesn’t protect you from every online threat. You should also think about adding a VPN to keep you safe.
We’ve taken the time to answer some of your frequently asked questions below.
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