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Viruses are designed to penetrate and retrieve data from digital devices, with the aim of leaking personal and sensitive information to unauthorized individuals. This is where antivirus software comes in. Designed to detect viruses before they wreak havoc on a device, their use has become increasingly important in today’s digital era. This blog will take a look at the top anti-virus software, with a brief look into the history of how they evolved over the decades.
The History Of Viruses: What Started It All
The first virus ever detected was in the 1970s, before the discovery of the internet. At that time was the ARPANET, an experimental computer network, which was poised to change the world as we know it.
The first virus, known as the Creeper virus, was a self-replicating program that was designed to target a specific operating system, mainly the TENEX OS. It wasn’t created for malicious purposes but it did establish the fact that networks could transmit such lines of codes easily, affecting possibly millions of people.
The Creeper virus was technically a worm. It did not do anything similar to the viruses of today, but just displayed a message on the infecting system.
The First Actual Virus
The first indication of a virus being present on the Internet was a decade later than the Creeper virus. Surprisingly coded by a 15-year old high-school student, it affected Apple II computers.
Although not designed to be malicious, it did infect the boot sector of the infected PCs. It also did damage some disks, which was annoying.
Although a lot common nowadays, the history of viruses predates the existence of the internet. This suggests that it has had many decades to mature.
The Current State Of Computer Viruses
Computer viruses have had a history of causing widespread damage and financial loss to various sectors of industries around the globe.
Even a few decades ago, viruses had to be injected locally on PCs. This made their reach limited and their effect minimal. But with the adoption of the internet, transmitting them has become easy and even the most experienced computer enthusiast can be fooled.
The term virus is pretty vague. There are several different types, and all are designed for malicious purposes:
- Boot Sector Virus
This kind affects the boot files of a particular PC. It corrupts the files and prevents the user from logging into his machine. This virus is normally transmitted locally.
- Browser Hijacker
This kind is perhaps the most common one. It controls the internet browser and adds bookmarks to malicious websites. These websites could host a ton of advertisements or could be phishing attempts.
- Macro Virus
This one is the most dangerous, as it can be attached with documents. When opened, macros are executed and they can deliver a payload.
- Polymorphic Virus
Polymorphic viruses have a tendency to change their digital footprint, allowing them to evade the best antivirus software scans. This is actually pretty clever but can lead to serious data leaks.
These are the most common viruses that anybody on the internet can be infected with. They are annoying and can normally be fixed with a full OS reset, which is time consuming and often leads to data loss. One must be aware of these and types of malware as well.
The Best Anti-Virus Software For PC Or Laptop Security
There are various anti-virus providers, all of which claim to be the number one for software protection, from all sorts of viruses and such. But which one is truly the best one? Let’s take a closer look:
Hailed by many as the worst software right now, Microsoft has actually put a lot of effort into this built-in software. It actively detects and removes threats, all while keeping CPU usage low. Its security intelligence is regularly updated, making it one of the best free antimalware
Another great option for consumers looking to settle for an after-market option. Malwarebytes has a subscription-based model but does indeed do a better job than most at rooting out even the most intelligent threats present in an operating system. It even goes a step further and scans for rootkits, which allow hackers to gain administrative-level access over the host computer.
BitDefender has been ranked by many popular publications as one of the best anti-virus software’s in the market. It has many features, such as ransomware protection, a built-in VPN, and automatic detection of outdated security patches. When it comes to comparing BitDefender paid vs free versions, there is a huge difference. According to many, it beats entire AV suites, all of which are designed to swindle as much money from consumers as possible.
This name might sound a bit unfamiliar to some people but in fact, it is an excellent option for installing on your PC. TotalAV offers real-time protection from viruses, making sure your data is secure at all times.
Not only that but it also improves your internet surfing experience by blocking ads and websites that might be spoofed or designed to harm.
What About The Worst Antivirus Software?
You might be wondering why some major names are missing from this list, including but not limited to:
- Norton
- Avira
- Avast
These companies have been on the market for decades and people might be inclined to opt for them. The reality is, when they are not selling collected sensitive data of their free users, they just do not provide adequate protection against various threats.
These particular antivirus software are also known to slow down PCs a lot. This alone removes them from our list of recommendations, also making them the worst antivirus software one could buy.
You might be thinking: “But they are recommended by many different publications”. The reality is, they are paid reviews and they usually include referral links to these software providers. This makes them biased and cannot be trusted.
Fortunately for you, Cybersoft North America, takes an unbiased approach. Our detailed and thorough research ensures that we guide our readers properly.
How Can You Protect Your Home Computer From Malware?
Although an antivirus does protect in case something fishy suddenly appears on a PC, the main reason for something like this happening is the user. There have been various cases in which a person or a customer opened a file attachment and now her files have been encrypted.
There are a few different things a person can do to reduce the chances of compromising data and improve the security in a computer:
- Checking email address of the sender, especially if there is a downloadable file attached.
- Checking the website link, especially if you have received a password reset email.
- Downloading software from reliable resources. It is also advised to pay for something rather than trying to get it for free.
- Using adblockers to limit exposure from malicious advertisements.
Conclusion
Antivirus software is important to have but it is equally important to take precautionary measures in the first place. Take courses and learn more about protecting your data at all times. Consider an AV software as the last line of defense and not the first one. Make sure to invest in a reliable service, so your PC and other supported devices stay safe and secure.
