Are We Protected Just By Using Antivirus?

 

Are We Protected Just By Using Antivirus?

Network security, a fundamental factor

The network is full of threats that can damage our devices, the way we use them, and therefore put our privacy at risk. Protecting ourselves is essential, something that we cannot ignore.

It is true that today most users take into account the importance of having a good antivirus. They try to adequately protect the equipment so that it works without problems, connects to the network with guarantees and does not have problems.

But it must also be taken into account that many users, many of whom do not have the appropriate knowledge, make mistakes that affect precisely the security. Not browsing, use of unreliable tools, etc.

Therefore, we must remember the importance of always maintaining security when browsing the Internet. And this applies to all types of operating systems and devices that we use. No team is problem-free.

Why is antivirus not enough for safe browsing

Many users have antivirus software on their system. Some even have this type of security software to protect us while we surf the Internet and prevent the entry of malware. But keep in mind that this is not enough.

It can be said that using an antivirus is part of our defense against the many threats that exist on the Internet. It is something basic, something that cannot be missed. There are many varieties that we have at our disposal, both free and paid. Many types of antivirus that keep us safe and prevent us from having problems.

But we must know that this alone is not enough. The pirates are constantly refining their attacks. They are always looking for a way to infect a system, steal information or compromise the proper functioning of the computer in some way. There are many aspects of these cybercriminals that antivirus alone cannot control.

For example, we can say that they can exploit vulnerabilities that are present in an operating system or in an application that we use, they use phishing attacks, stealth malware that the antivirus does not detect, etc.

In short, the use of an antivirus will help us to protect ourselves on the Internet, it will prevent the entry of certain threats, but it is a reality that this is not enough. We must have other tools and use certain methods to defend ourselves.

How to protect yourself online

We will give some interesting tips on how to protect yourself on the network beyond the use of an antivirus. The objective is that our equipment is always protected, minimizing the risk of suffering attacks that compromise our security and privacy. It is something that we have to apply as we say in any type of operating system that we use or equipment.

Have updated material

This is certainly a very important point. It is useless to have a good antivirus if later our equipment becomes obsolete, if we have a large number of unpatched vulnerabilities .

These security holes can be used by intruders to carry out their attacks. They can act as a gateway for threats that reach our systems that can steal information, passwords, and ultimately affect proper functioning.

Therefore, a very important tip is to always have properly updated equipment . This applies to both the operating system and any program we use.

Download only from trusted sources

We must not forget the importance of downloading only from safe sites and installing only reliable programs . It is true that we often come across third-party sites, with platforms, that offer the possibility of downloading very diverse applications. However, it is advisable to use only reliable sources.

We must also avoid installing modified or third-party programs. It is essential that we always use secure software. Sometimes we will find the possibility of adding applications that have other additional functions, but this could be a danger to our security.

Connect to secure networks

When it comes to connecting to Wireless Connections , which is becoming more and more common, we should only do it on those that are reliable. For example, browsing Wi-Fi networks at an airport or shopping center is risky. Here, an antivirus could not protect us from possible intruders who could collect information and spy on us.

In case we need to connect to this type of network, we can still use VPN services. These tools encrypt the connection so that we can surf the net safely. The data, the information, go through a kind of tunnel.

Protect yourself with strong passwords

Without a doubt, this is another of the most important tips to stay safe beyond using an antivirus. Protect us with complex keys , which have the proper requirements. It is essential that we keep all of our accounts, systems and devices protected.

A strong password It must contain letters (uppercase and lowercase), numbers and other special symbols. It must be random, of a suitable length, and always unique. It is a mistake to use the same key on multiple sites.

But also, beyond a strong password, we also need to enable two-step authentication. This is essential to add an additional safety barrier. This prevents an intruder from knowing the password to gain access. They would still need this second step which can be, for example, a code by SMS.

Common sense

But the most important thing is common sense . Even if we have the best security tools, even if we have updated equipment and strong passwords, we can still make mistakes. That is why it is essential that we take common sense into account.

We speak, for example, of not making mistakes such as opening email attachments that we cannot trust or accessing links that we receive through social networks that may in fact be a scam. If we avoid this, if we do not make mistakes while surfing the net, we will have a lot to gain by avoiding problems that affect our security or privacy.

In short, an antivirus is not enough to protect us. Many factors can influence and damage our equipment. It is important that we take into account everything we have discussed to keep our systems working and safe.