Antivirus software is of the utmost importance. But as malware gets more sophisticated, what else can users do to protect themselves from digital threats? Let’s Go…
Antivirus companies growing faster than ever
More users, more opportunities, more viruses. As it stands, the antivirus software market is set to see significant growth up until 2023. The complexities of antivirus software cannot be understated. This type of software makes sure that while the user is perusing multiple websites, their device is kept safe from hazardous malware attacks. Antivirus software products rely on signature-based detection methods, including real-time scanning and heuristic detection. The need for online protection is multifaceted; the rise of cybercrime can be attributed to the constant rise of usage with the perpetual upward trajectory of technology. In today’s age, consumers are also aware of the sneaky tactics employed by hackers and perpetrators of cybercrime, thus looking to paid antivirus options. Throw in bank frauds and hacking on the whole, and you have a climate conducive to the growth of antivirus software.
Can you still rely on antivirus software?
There’s a strong narrative doing the rounds and claiming that malware has become too sophisticated. For instance, way back in 2005, it was reported that malware was detected every 12 minutes. Fast-forward to 2016, and according to McAfee, it was 4 per second! This was just what could be detected, and it’s based on data from five years ago. Viruses haven’t just spread. They’ve become more advanced, too, with likening malware behavior to that of biological viruses that our immune systems are made to deal with. Experts who predict the future and the success of antivirus software have stated its modes of operation are outdated. The specific criticism leveled at signature dictates that malware looks the same, thus requiring fixes to deal with a specific strain. The real threat potential of malware came into effect when for-profit malware came onto the scene, allowing for malware to rapidly change its appearance.
Antivirus software: there will always be a need
The market for antivirus software will always exist and always experience growth. That’s just a by-product of technology on the whole and something actually visible in tech investments on FTSE 100 companies. However, like any protective initiative, antivirus software needs your help. In other words, if you have antivirus software on your PC or mobile device, it’s important to attend to various needs to make sure that the antivirus software can do its job to the best of its ability. It can be comparable to the idea of washing one’s hands; even when you do so, the chance of missing some dirt is always there, hence the need to take further initiatives such as eating a balanced diet and getting enough sleep. In light of this comparable concept, the idea is then that you should always have an antivirus program and also exercise other good practices for the maximum protective effect. To further illustrate, always update your antivirus software to the latest version, but in addition to that, install updates for all your software – where applicable. This can seem like an arduous task at times, but its long-term implications are valuable. In addition to software updates, change your passwords regularly, implement two-stage authentication, encrypt your devices, and always back up valuable data on external hard drives. It all means that if malware infringes on your life, its effects are efficiently mitigated, and you can get back to normality as soon as possible.
