IS ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE BECOMING OBSOLETE?

 

IS ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE BECOMING OBSOLETE?

A virus, Trojans, Worms - Malware (a contraction of “malicious software”) comes in many forms. Even though these threats have existed for many years, the quantity has steadily increased in line with general internet usage. Additionally, just as the sophistication and capabilities of technology have improved over the years, so has competition from malicious programs. In fact, if you don't keep your technology up to date, you will be compromised with the increasing effectiveness of malware.

According to the IT security organization AV-Test, more than 220,000 malicious software programs are detected every day and this is not even the whole picture. Even the antivirus software installed on your computer cannot detect every threat that comes your way; Depending on the software, the figure can even be as low as 60%. And even if a threat is detected, it is usually too late:

“Most antivirus tools use signature files to detect viruses. But it's an 'after the fact' method: only new viruses are detected are they added to the malware lists.

This means that if your computer or other hardware comes in contact with any new viruses, even though your AV software can detect them (even if this is not secure), they will not be able to defend against the attack. In fact, proactive detection, which "catches a virus before it infects your computer, stops at 80%."

How Your Computer Is Threatened?

So what are the risks? What is all this malware designed for, how does it do it, and what's the point?

Well, first of all, it's not just your desktop that is vulnerable to malicious programs. Your laptop, tablet, and smartphone are also potential targets for viruses and hackers. Cybercriminals are constantly looking for ways in which they can steal your passwords, steal your online banking details, or exploit the information on your machine for financial gain, and installing viruses on your computer is one of the ways in which they do this.

Cybercriminals have become more adept and organized to launch hit-and-run attacks than ever before.

Identity Fraud

Phishing is a technique that cybercriminals have increasingly adopted over the years. It is not an epidemic intrinsically, just a scam, but precisely why any antivirus protection you've got installed on your computer are going to be outdated if you fall victim to the ruse.

You will receive an email from what appears to be your bank. You click on what appears to be your bank's website, but in fact it is just a very convincing facsimile. You are asked for your card number and password, and if you enter it, all you are doing is handing over this vital information to the cybercriminal, giving him access to your real online bank account.

Automatic Downloads

These infect existing websites. However, if you visit that website (and you may be sent an email link encouraging you), it will proceed to install the malware on your computer.

Troy Horse

These little annoyances are built into little online apps, often screen savers and the like. If you download the screen saver and install it on your computer, you are also installing the malware that has been written in the application.

Custom Trojan Horse

These Trojans work in much the same way as before, however, you are the personal target of the attack rather than leaving it to chance.

Again, it often works through the utilization of email. You will receive an email with an image or other document attached (zip files are common). For whatever reason, you tricked yourself into opening the attached image, thus opening the door for malware to enter your computer.

Data Hijacking

They usually use a lazy attack method, when at some point after you've downloaded a seemingly innocuous application or program, perhaps an update or even a ringtone, you suddenly see a pop-up box on your computer. What you actually downloaded was a piece of malware, and now the pop-up box tells you that it has locked your computer, and it has.

Then it will demand money from you to unlock your files, often by texting a given short code. Your phone provider will be billed for the amount in question, who will in turn bill you at the end of the month, usually with a fine imposed for good measure.

So how much protection does antivirus software offer against these threats?

In short, not enough. Due to the large volume of malware circulating on the commercial Internet, antivirus programs alone are not enough to combat the problem.

The problem with antivirus software

Antivirus software, in the face of these ubiquitous threats, has inevitably become a multi-billion dollar industry. One of the reasons for this, in fact, is because users have to continually update it to stay ahead of, or rather just behind, the sophistication of new malware threats. The problem lies in the very nature of antivirus software: it is reactive. It only responds to the precise malware that it's programmed to detect. All the cybercriminal has got to do is make some slight modifications to the malware code, and therefore the antivirus program is out of date again.

The large number of malware variations makes it effectively impossible for antivirus software to combat the problem. It is simply not possible to create a blanket program that avoids all threats.

So What Is The Answer?

Education

Malware is often the result of user intervention - they may have clicked on a phishing link or opened an attachment. They may even have clicked on something on social media that uses social engineering tactics (like "clickbait" - "you'll never believe what happened when ...") to entice the user to click. Only by educating users about the risks, especially when it comes to companies they must comply, will they be able to understand and resist clicking.

File monitoring

Managed IT services are now replacing the old "fix" model where IT support companies would come in and fix a problem after it occurred. The power of the cloud and monitoring services should be used wherever possible to prevent malware from entering the business environment and reaching the end user.

So Is It Time To Ditch Antivirus Software Altogether?

Of course not. Antivirus software, while increasingly outdated, still forms the first line of defense. It doesn't hurt to have it installed on your computer, so there is no reason to remove it. It is like closing the door and windows when leaving the house. Yes, thieves can still get in, but you're not opening the door for them. They will have to be motivated, and it won't be as easy a target as the house next door who decided to remove all the doors and windows entirely.

So, while not completely outdated, antivirus software is certainly becoming less and less useful, and almost definitely no longer effective to the extent that it can function as complete protection on its own. The advice is to keep using it, but reinforce with other techniques, but the ongoing war against malware and cybercriminals will not be won by antivirus software alone. But skipping antivirus software will not make you win.