Types of Antivirus Software for PCs

 

Types of Antivirus Software for PCs

Basically, antivirus is divided into three categories, depending on the function for which they were designed.

In the first place, there are the so-called “Preventive Antivirus”, which fulfill the function, as its name indicates, of anticipating the infection by intercepting and analyzing all data input and output operations. It should be noted that this type of antivirus to perform its task must be installed on the disk and reside in the memory of the PC, which is why they take up many resources that in the end slow down the computer.

Another type of antivirus is called "Identifying Antivirus", whose primary function is to identify threats that may already be active on our computer, and that affect system performance. To achieve its mission, this type of antivirus analyzes all files on the computer in search of byte strings related to malware.

The last type of antivirus is called "Decontaminating Antivirus" , whose purpose is to eliminate an infection when it has already occurred and attacked the computer. Many of these antiviruses will also try to revert to the state before the infection occurred.

What is the Best Antivirus?

This is a difficult question to answer, since there are variables that each user must take into account when choosing the best antivirus for their PC. Although literally dozens of antivirus are distributed, both free and paid, the truth is that not all antivirus offer the sufficient degree of security that they should.

In the event that we are looking for an effective antivirus that complies with the most modern requirements and standards in the fight against malware, viruses and other threats, these are some of the most renowned names of free antivirus on the market, which we can use as base until we find the one that best suits our specific needs and requirements.

o    Microsoft Windows Defender

o    Microsoft Security Essentials 

    Protegent 360 Antivirus

o    AVG Free Antivirus 

o    Avast! Free Antivirus 

o    Avira Antivirus Personal

Advantages and disadvantages of ANTIVIRUS for PC and online antivirus

We mentioned above that not all antivirus are the same. That is why from this point we will learn the differences that exist between the two types of antivirus most used today: antivirus in the cloud or traditional antivirus, that is, the one we install on the computer. In this review we will be able to have an overview of which of the mentioned systems best suits our requirements.

Cloud computing or Cloud Computing, as it is also known, is a metaphor used to easily understand the concept of computing operations carried out outside of our computer, that is, all those actions that we develop in a decentralized environment . A very clear example of this are applications such as Drop Box or Google Docs.

 

 

Free Antivirus Software for Windows- Tips to Choose the Best One

Antivirus is one of those programs that should not be missing from any computer. With the internet, our computer is exposed to possible dangers via an exposed web page, an email that hides a malicious attachment. And an antivirus program, together with a firewall, acts as a barrier.

It is not the first time that I speak of the subject nor will it be the last. They are not perfect, although they try with each new update, and they consume resources such as CPU or RAM, but an antivirus can help us prevent our files from being exposed to malware or our PC from running slower or worse due to malicious programs.

Antivirus firms have long offered, in addition to their commercial products, a free version. There are them for all tastes, with real-time protection or only disk analysis, automatically or manually updatable, with all functions or with only a few expandable by payment, for all types of malware, etc.

Virtually all antivirus software manufacturers have a free version: Kaspersky, McAfee, Panda, Avast, AVG, Avira, Bitdefender, Comodo, Sophos ... Even Windows itself has its own antivirus tool, Windows Defender, which it introduced in XP through optional installation but is currently pre-installed.

Faced with so much variety, which antivirus to choose? What should be my choice according to my needs? Aren't they all the same?

Instead of limiting myself to listing the entire free antivirus for Windows currently available, what better way than to review the characteristics of a good antivirus and the additional precautions and tools that we should take into account.

In real time or on demand

Do you need your antivirus to be constantly monitoring the files and programs on your computer or with doing an exhaustive scan once a week you have enough?

The most advisable thing is to go to an antivirus with real-time protection, but this implies that your computer loses resources for that program. If you do not need permanent protection because you occasionally access the internet or external sources (stickers, external memories, etc.), perhaps with an on-demand antivirus you will have enough.

The same happens on old computers or computers dedicated to tasks that require all available memory and resources.

Personally, in a normal environment, with permanent internet access, I recommend using an antivirus with real-time protection and, optionally, having a second antivirus on demand, to have greater security.

Third-party advertising and software

That an antivirus is free does not mean that it is not profitable. It may be the case that the antivirus in question offers advertising on its interface. It is not bad in itself, but it can be a nuisance or it can cause rejection.

The same happens if, together with the installation of the antivirus, additional programs are recommended as a recommendation but that is still advertising. In principle it is not a problem, we only have to look at the installation wizard to uncheck that option (toolbars, programs, etc.).

License

An important detail is the license of the program. Usually free antivirus for Windows is intended for the home, not for work environments. You have to look closely at the license before installing one or another free antivirus, especially if we manage networks or an office computer park.

Additional functions

The differences between a free antivirus and a paid one are usually mainly in the technical support, paid and in a more advanced interface with more functions than the free version. Still, between free Antiviruses there are also differences. Internally, they can use their own or external motor. ESET, Avast, AVG, Bitdefender or Kaspersky, for example, have their own antivirus engine.

Others use a third-party engine, among which the Bitdefender engine stands out used in Lavasoft Ad-Aware, Bullguard or Auslogics, among others. And there is a third option, combining your own engine and a third one, as Emsisoft, Ashampoo or F-Secure do. As additional functions we can take into account if it has specific surveillance for email managers and web browsers, main virus entries, integrates its own or third-party firewalls, updates the definitions automatically and how regularly, etc.

Don't forget the firewall

Antivirus is one of the pillars of your computer's security, but not the only one. As or more important than having antivirus software is having a firewall.

Although Windows comes with a firewall by default, we may want one from another manufacturer, more customizable or offering more information in real time about data inputs and outputs . An example is GlassWire or the popular ZoneAlarm, but there are many more.

As a third option, it would include a backup tool. If antivirus and firewall fail and we are victims of malware, such as the popular ransomware, sometimes the only solution is to restore our files . Having backup copies can be our salvation.

Your habits as a safety measure

It also depends on ourselves whether or not we are more confident. It is useless to have a good antivirus, free or paid, if we later download files from any source or access undesirable pages. Taking certain precautions, such as those recommended by experts, will help so that, in case our antivirus does not give more of itself, we can navigate or work with our computer without problems.

 

Tips To Choose the Best Antivirus

 

Tips To Choose the Best Antivirus

Are you looking for the Best Antivirus Software or the best security solution for the IT maintenance of your SME? There are so many options on the market that you may not know what to choose. Surely you have heard thousands of times how important it is to have an antivirus, but you may not know what criteria it has to meet to achieve the best security for your company.

On some occasion we have talked about the importance of making backup copies as the safest method to protect your company's information. Today we are going to guide you in the most important aspects that you have to take into account to choose the best antivirus option for your SME. With more than a quarter of a million new malicious programs being detected every day, it is clear that everyone needs the protection of a good antivirus product. Having it will not guarantee us to be free from threats, but we will make it more difficult.

It doesn't matter if you work on Windows, Android or macOS: there is malware that makes its way to your computer. But what kind of antivirus software should you get? Will you have to pay for it, or is the free antivirus good enough? Is anti-malware software the same as anti-virus software? Why are there so many different types of antivirus software, even from just one brand? And does the use of antivirus software pose a risk to computer equipment?

The answers to all these questions are complicated, but we are going to try to give you some basic advice while you decide on the best protection for your SME's IT.

1.    Free Antiviruses that offer good protection, but pay offers more features

Some free antivirus products will protect your computer systems extremely well from malware. But paid products tend to have a lot more extra features, especially on Windows. You just have to keep in mind that in most cases you will have to spend an annual subscription. Most people tend to go for less expensive products, and while this is a good general approach, it is not always the best.For security products, that means looking for the cheapest product that meets your needs and offers the protection you need. That product might not be the least expensive on the market. On the other hand, imagine how much it will cost you if you buy a bargain security product that cannot protect your personal files against ransomware threats.

2.    Look for a light system load

It is true that any antivirus program will use up some of our computer's resources, but a good antivirus program should keep your system free of malware without significantly slowing down your system's performance. In testing, the best antivirus software is hardly a performance drag.

3.    A near perfect detection rate

Since the role of antivirus software is to detect threats, it should do so flawlessly. Seek certification from a respected third-party testing organization.

You will need to ensure that your antivirus software stops more than 95% of malware, whether it is common malware or new malware. But make sure that the detection rate is not accompanied by a high rate of false positives, which are benign files mistakenly identified as malware.

4.    An intuitive interface

Because antivirus software can be customized, it is important that the interface guides users through the various settings.

5.    Daily updates

Provide up-to-date protection. An antivirus software that uses old and outdated malware definitions is a weak product. Viruses continually evolve, they never stop, so antivirus must do that too. A good antivirus is a product that is constantly updated, several times a day.

6.    Consider reputation

This may sound a bit conservative, but in the IT security market, reputation matters. Buying and using a security product from a reputable company is usually a safer bet than jumping in with a security product from an unknown company. Good security solutions tend to stay good as time goes on.

7.    Antivirus alone or security suite?

Antivirus software comes as a standalone program, but you can also purchase it as part of a comprehensive security suite. Security suites, covered in our separate report on Internet security software, are more expensive, but include a range of protections, with antivirus software, antispyware and antispam programs, identity theft protection, firewalls, and parental controls. 

8.    Check the system requirements

Make sure the antivirus program you choose works with your Windows or Mac operating system. If you have an older computer, a large antivirus software program can consume a large percentage of your computing power and may have compatibility problems.

9.    Avoid conflicts

Antivirus software rarely works very well with similar products from different vendors. Before installing third-party software, completely uninstall any pre-existing security software.

Despite all the information we've collected, choosing the best antivirus software in 2019 is easier said than done. From free products to sophisticated feature-laden security software, there are so many options on today's market that it can be difficult to know which antivirus software is right for your business. 

 

Identifying Malware & Rectify it by Antivirus Software

 

Identifying Malware & Rectify it by Antivirus Software

It is not the intention of this article to go into technicalities of how antivirus works or anything similar, but to make the user aware of the importance of something so simple but at the same time with a significant impact on the security of our computers. The importance of updating our software / programs is not only delegated to the Antivirus but it is a routine that we should incorporate into any program installed on the computer whose function is security.

In the particular case of Antivirus, the update is necessary for the simple fact that one of the tools that it has to prevent or detect the entry of computer viruses in time is detection through its database.

Basically, what it does is take a piece of code from the virus in question and incorporate it into its database, so that later, either through scanning or permanent protection, when a new file is entered or processed on the computer This will compare that fragment of code available in the antivirus database with the file that is being used, and if they match, an alert will immediately appear in our system warning us that a virus has been found. The efficiency of this process is closely linked to the "quality" of the database; let's say that the more records it has, the broader the spectrum covered by our Antivirus.

Why are we commenting on this? And… what does it have to do with the update?

We comment on it because it has to do with everything.

Because one of the   things that is installed in the process of updating an antivirus, are new records in the Database, let us bear in mind that new viruses are emerging every day, and existing ones are mutating; so having an Antivirus installed and not updating it is having security only from the moment of installation backwards; By this I mean that all viruses and / or malicious programs that emerge (and will) come to light at a later time… we will be defenseless.

That is why we believe it necessary to insist on this issue, for the following reasons:

 

-         It is simple processes to carry out, which even the user can do.

-         Besides the ease, it is something that only takes a few minutes.

-         It is something vital, essential, for the maximum performance of our Antivirus.

Also, we have the option of activating automatic updates in our Antivirus software, which, if we want to "forget about it", it would not be a bad idea; What if we would have to take into account is not to put it to update on a schedule in which intensive use of the pc is made because we would be slowing down the system, hindering the other tasks we are doing, although it is not critical anymore that, in itself, the update process does not usually take long.

Otherwise it happens when we scan the pc for viruses, this if we decide to do it automatically , try to set a time when the computer is not being used, because exhaustive use of the computer is made since to scour file by file for viruses.

Malware has many faces, and it is that malicious programs reproduce on computers in different ways. Whether it is viruses , spyware or Trojans , the presence of malicious software on computer systems should always be avoided. What types of malware are there? In this guide we tell you what is the best way to protect yourself from their attacks and what you can do if your computer or your server's web space becomes infected.

What does malware mean and what types are there?

The term malware refers to a type of software that has generally malicious functions. Most users simply identify it as a virus, thus moving away from the actual definition and dimension of malicious software. A computer virus represents a specific type of malware and is different from many other types.

Computer viruses

Viruses are programs that spread independently , reproduce themselves and infiltrate other computer programs and are the most traditional and well-known form of malicious software. When a virus is activated, it reproduces and can impair the functionality of the computer, destroy data, spy on the user or even damage the hardware.

Computer worms

Computer worms reproduce and spread more actively than viruses and do not need to alter files, but instead access systems through networks or storage devices. Computer worms that spread via e-mail use a user's e-mail program to distribute themselves through the contacts in the address book. Like viruses, worms can damage the system and are often used to give the attacker some control over other people's computers. Today they are one of the most widely used types of malware.

Trojans

Trojan horses, better known as Trojans (their name refers to the Greek myth collected by Homer in The Odyssey ), are presented as apparently harmless programs, but in reality they try to access computer systems and, if they succeed, they execute them functions that negatively affect the user. Trojans are capable of carrying out harmful actions, such as monitoring data traffic on a computer or even copying files and sending them. Others, for their part, run and modify certain programs on the computer and install new software (in most cases, spyware or adware). Trojans can even be remotely controlled(for example, through a backdoor), which gives rise to other users having the possibility of misusing a computer in what is now known as cybercrime.

Adware

The term derives from English and is composed of "advertisement" ("Ad") and software ("ware"). Adware allows advertising to be displayed in a program and, in most cases, it is part of freeware (freeware) and is legitimate. However, it can be dangerous when you make changes to the system or browser settings without prompting and display, for example, pseudo web pages or pop-up windows.

Preventive measures against malicious by Antivirus Software

There are different types of software designed to protect computer systems from external threats, but all the responsibility does not lie with them, but your handling of the situation also plays an important role. This refers, on the one hand, to software-based preventive measures and, on the other, to guidelines on the use of the Internet.

Software-based prevention

In order for your system to be safe from badware, it is advisable to equip the team with the following software:

• A current & effective antivirus software: An antivirus is a program that runs permanently and protects your computer from the threats of malicious software. To be able to recognize as many malicious programs as possible, you should always be up to date with automatic updates. Windows operating systems come standard with an antivirus, which can be Microsoft Security Essentials (Windows Vista, Windows 7) or Windows Defender (from Windows 8). Among the most effective and free antivirus programs are Avast , Avira and 360 Total Security. These programs are available for both Windows and Mac or Android operating systems. Another of the best known and also free antivirus for Windows is Panda Free Antivirus Software. These types of programs protect systems from the presence of viruses and can eliminate almost any of them regardless of their nature or, at least, can offer advice on how to proceed correctly. This also applies to computer worms, Trojans and other types of malicious software, so that antivirus programs not only protect against computer viruses, but also against other types of malicious programs and also help to remove malware.

• An active firewall: You can only protect your computer from unwanted access when the firewall is active, and this is an essential component of many operating systems, including Windows.

• A current version of the operating system: Updates help eliminate security gaps caused by malware on your computer. It is best to keep the operating system up to date, for example, by activating automatic updates.  

• Current versions of the programs: it is also advisable to update the software that is used, especially that which enables the Internet connection. Outdated versions of browsers, Java, Flash, and other applications, often contain security flaws and allow badware to access the system.

Reasons of Using Parental Control Software

 

Reasons of Using Parental Control Software

Unless you've lived under a rock for the past decade, you've likely heard of PARENTAL CONTROL SOFTWARE. Primarily designed for internet devices, this is a tool that all responsible parents should know about. While there are tons of apps, you may still be wondering why you need to think about parental control software and what benefits and benefits it can bring to your family.

Today, we'll explore the top ten reasons why you should think about parental control software on your child's smartphones, computers, and tablets, and how they can help you maintain your child's well-being while still doing their activities.

10 Reasons You Need Parental Control Software

 

# 1 - Safety While Using the Internet

It doesn't matter how many times you have a conversation about Internet safety with your child; there is no way to know precisely if the message was effective or not. If you haven't, the dangers of your kids accessing dangerous content are far greater than simply being able to check to see if they have.

By using parental control software, you can track which websites and content your child is viewing at all times, making it easy to see if you need to pick up the conversation or intervene by physically blocking the apps.

# 2 - Control When You Are Not With Your Children

Think about the number of times your kids hang out with their devices and not with you. While at school, at a friend's house, at a sleepover, on a school trip, at another family member's house, and everything in between. At those times, there is no way you can control your child's phone use.

However, with parental control software, you will be able to control and view all of your child's statistics, no matter where your child is in the world, helping to maintain a level of safety and security, whatever the situation. is found.

# 3 - Balance Your Digital Diet

While we've already talked about internet safety and the conversations you've already had with your kids, the same must be said about the amount of time they spend using their devices. As we will explain below, children become more and more addicted to using technology, so much so that they become disconnected from reality.

By using parental control software, you can see how much your devices are using. You can then add this along with the amount of time their computers and televisions are using, giving you all the information you need to make the right decisions.

# 4 - Unable to Monitor Digital Use by Children

No matter how aware you are of your kids and how often they use their devices, there is no way you can accurately track how much they use it. When average device usage for a child in the US is on average 4-7 hours per day, this is a shocking amount of time.

Using parental control software means you can see the exact amount of time your kids spend on their devices, what times of the day they are accessing them, and which apps they are using, helping you make the right decisions when it comes to balancing diet. your child's digital.

# 5 - Prevent Cyber bullying

It's a shame we have to add this to our list, but it's such a rampant problem that it needs to be addressed and dealt with early. Due to the anonymity of the Internet, trolls do exist, and they are meant to make people feel bad about themselves.

Whether they are commenting on pictures, status updates, or simply via chat messages, installing parental control software can help you monitor whether your kids are cyber bullying, allowing them to help you out and have the right conversations.

# 6 - Bypass Parental Control Settings

There are many features and options built into many devices, smartphones, tablets, and computers that can help you limit your child's ability to access certain content or websites. However, if your child is older and more tech savvy, they may be able to circumvent these characteristics.

Installing parental control software can help you set a password and locks that prevent the settings from being changed, meaning that even if your child is tech savvy, they won't be able to disable the settings.

# 7 - Multiple Browsers

While it's fine to set up parental controls on one of your child's internet browsers, it's worth noting that there are many browsers available for free download. Without remote access to your child's phone, you won't be able to know which of these browsers they are using.

This means that even if you have blocked potentially dangerous content in one browser, they may still be able to access it in another browser, which means that you have not prevented them from viewing the content.

# 8 - Limit Online Gaming

The games are designed to be highly addictive, and while games played in moderation can be fun and entertaining, spending too much time on them can drain a child's concentration and disconnect them from reality. It can also cause serious damage to your social skills.

There are millions of games available on mobile devices and installing a parental control app can help you see how long your kids play with them, so you can help them find their balance.

# 9 - Time Management

As we've already discussed, finding the right balance between playing and being in the real world is very important from a young age. If your children spend their lives playing video games and not focusing on anything else, then this is all they are going to do as adults.

Installing parental control software for many of the reasons we've listed above is a great way to help teach your kids time management skills, a skill that will benefit them throughout their lives.

# 10 - Create More Time with Family

How much time do you spend with your children as a family?; a time when you are device-free and simply enjoying each other's company. This is an essential part of relationship building, and not having a relationship with your child now will damage their relationship when they are older.

Using parental control software to completely block access to the device is a great way to entice your child off their device and spend it with you and other siblings.

 

Parental Control Protects Kids from the Hazards on Internet

 

Parental Control Protects Kids from the Hazards on Internet

In these times, computer equipment, whether desktop or mobile, is within reach of most, including children. That is why when they use a Windows PC , we should take some precautions, for example through a PARENTAL CONTROL application.

For those of you who do not know what we are talking about, say that Parental Control Software will help us to keep children under surveillance when they use the PC. They can be found with certain applications or be exposed to inappropriate content, something that we must avoid at all costs. That is why at the moment we have a good amount of software focused on parental control, which will make this task easier.

Reasons to use a Parental Control program

We must bear in mind, as many of you will know first-hand, that the smallest of the house are increasingly hooked on technology at an earlier age. That is why the adults responsible for them, be they parents, teachers or others, have to control in some way what these minors do online. And it is that from the outset and by default, browsers and other programs to use the Internet, do not establish any filter in terms of the contents that are accessed.

We also know that on the Internet we can find everything, from the most useful information, to the most strange and unpleasant content. Therefore, in most cases we will not want these minors who access from a PC or a mobile phone, to have access to anything without any control. Hence the reason for precisely these parental controls programs.

And it is that all this will help us to supervise the activity of the little ones without spending a single euro , something to which we are going to refer to below. And it is necessary to bear in mind that the Internet, in addition to all kinds of applications and platforms, is available to anyone today. That is why we must be careful what our children access while they are using a Windows PC , so we are going to show you some proposals that will be very helpful.

Programs in Windows for parental control 

Qustodio

This is a program of this type that has a free plan with certain restrictions that works for Windows, Mac , iOS and Android. Qustodio is one of the best proposals to control the activity of the smallest on the PC, since it offers us functions of all kinds, especially in the Premium mode. In addition, we can manage all of them remotely from any web browser. Among its functions, we can block unwanted content, control games and all kinds of applications, etc. At the same time it offers support to monitor the use of social networks .

Norton Online Family App Parental Control

In this case, we will talk about a solution of this type developed by one of the best-known PC security companies, Norton. It allows us to monitor the activities of the smallest members of the family. The platform is compatible with Windows, iOS and Android devices and has several functions. The first thing we do is create the users and the level of control depending on their age. It also includes social media monitoring, usage time, email alerts, web content monitoring, etc.

Kaspersky Safe Kids Free

This is another proposal that belongs to another of the greats in the security sector such as Kaspersky. We are talking about Kaspersky Safe Kids Free. Saying that this program allows us to know what the little ones in the house are doing thanks to a series of reports provided by the software . Among the data you provide us, we highlight the time of use of the device, the websites that have been visited, as well as the applications. It is clear that at the same time we can block access to certain inappropriate websites , and the same will happen with the applications that we do not want them to use.

Kidlogger Parental Control

Next we are going to talk about another parental control proposal for Windows and macOS that has been with us for some time. In reality, what this free program proposes is to keep an eye on our child's activities by providing records of types of use. In this way, what we are going to achieve is to monitor and restrict the time of use of both applications and the Internet, in addition to the devices as such.

Spyrix Free Keylogger Parental Control

In this case we will tell you about other complete solutions to keep an eye on the actions of children on the PC. Specifically, we refer to a free parental control program that allows us to remotely control the activity of children on the device where it is installed. It should be noted that its interface presents information of all kinds related to the use of the PC. It also stores screenshots from time to time so that we can keep an eye on the little ones.

It is compatible with a multitude of platforms and computers, and for greater utility, the software can run in the background without being detected. In case you want to try Spyrix Free Keylogger Parental Control.

FoxFilter

Here we are going to talk about a proposal of the same type, but focused on use from browsers such as Firefox and Chrome. In fact, it is an extension for both proposals designed to provide us with a multitude of blocking filters based on keywords, in addition to certain URLs . It also allows us to adjust the control of content, titles or Internet addresses to not allow access. We may establish alert notifications that detail the type of content of each blocked site.

DNS Angel

And now we will talk about the proposal for Parental Control called DNS Angel , Once downloaded, we will say that it works in Windows in a portable way and allows us to enable parental control with a single mouse click.

Specifically, what this proposal offers us is to configure different DNS servers for each of the users who use this specific PC. For all this, it presents us with a simple user interface in which we can configure a secure DNS server that blocks and filters inappropriate content. In addition, with this operation we will not have to configure or customize complex options, it is enough that we select the most appropriate filter for each case and user. To say that to achieve this, it has support for Norton DNS, Yandex Family or OpenDNS , all with the purpose of blocking adult, gaming, or violent content.

Windows 10 parental control

And finally we are going to mention the proposal of this type that includes Windows 10 itself. It is evident that being a solution from Microsoft itself, it will be one of the easiest to use, although many prefer to use third-party solutions like the ones we have shown you previously. Therefore, if you want to know in detail the operation of Windows 10 Parental Control , we recommend you take a look at the article in which we talk about all this in depth.

DNS with parental control: a quick and easy alternative

In addition to the previous programs, which will allow us to control our minors, if what concern us are inappropriate web pages (adult content, gambling, violence, religion, etc.), another solution we can resort to is to using DNS.

The DNS servers are responsible for resolving the domain names of the websites that we visit in order to find out their IP and connect to them. In addition to the classic DNS, like those of Google or Cloud-flare, there are some domain name servers that act as filters.