The best antivirus software provides strong malware protection, a range of other cybersecurity protections and excellent performance across all operating systems. It should also be light on your computer’s resources to ensure it doesn’t cause slowdowns or even crash it.
The antivirus software of the past checked for viruses when files were being written to disk or downloaded from the internet. If a file appeared suspicious, the program would either delete or quarantine it, thus preventing the spread of malware. The software was effective in combating basic viruses but as the number of malware threats that were new grew quickly over the past decade, antivirus software that was in use for a while had a difficult time identifying new threats and prevent them from doing damage.
EDR (Enterprise Endpoint Detection and Response), also known as antivirus replacements, employs a full set of prevention technologies in order to stop and detect everything from common malware to novel attacks which have never been seen. This method has proven to be more efficient than traditional antivirus programs that rely on signature-based identification.
You need to use your computer and have a decent level of common sense before you decide if you’re in need of an anti-virus program. A good antivirus program is essential if you visit sites that are not safe, download pirated programs, or don’t have other cybersecurity protection. If you’re a Mac user who only uses the app store exclusively and ensures that your security settings are high, you may be able to get away without one. But all users ought to at least think about getting an antivirus tool to protect against threats of phishing.