When you get sick, what happens?
You feel infected and can’t work properly. Right!
Computer viruses are just like that. If your PC catch one, it modifies or disables core functions of your computer. A computer virus can considerably slow computer performance, damaged or destroyed files, and everything in between.
Computer viruses affect millions
of people’s computers every year. Getting a computer virus has happened to many
users in some way or another. On March 26, 1999, millions of people around the
world became a victim of computer virus when they opened an email they thought
was from a friend or colleague. The email was with the subject line ‘important
message.’ The email suggested there was a private document for the user, so it
sounded serious. Millions of people clicked on the document and found a smiley
face at the end of the message. The email was simply a virus called Melissa.
The virus reached into user’s computer and stole 50 email addresses to send the
same message to others. This is what a computer virus does to infect your
computer.
Are you looking for an easy
definition of a computer virus? Here it goes.
A computer virus is a malicious
software program that infects your computer. The virus gets loaded onto a
user’s computer without the knowledge of a user and performs malicious actions
to damage the system, programs or files. A computer virus runs against your
wishes and alters the way your computer operates or stop it from working.
Trojans, Spyware, Ransomware,
Adware- What are they? They all are computer viruses.
All operating systems can catch a
computer virus or malware. Even though you’re careful, your computer can pick
up viruses through normal Web activities. Most cases of computer viruses come
from receiving music, files, or photos from other users, visiting an infected
website, viewing an infected website ad, opening spam email or an email
attachment, downloading free games, media players, toolbars and other system
utilities and installing mainstream software applications without carefully
reading the license agreement. Whether you use Android, iOS, macOS, Microsoft
Windows, or a Linux variant, your computer can be at risk.
You must be aware of what does a
computer virus do?
Some computer viruses are
designed to harm your computer by damaging programs, deleting files, or
reformatting the hard drive. Others simply replicate themselves, making your
computer run much more slowly and with more difficulty.
Even less harmful computer
viruses can remarkably disrupt your system’s performance, sapping computer
memory and causing unexplained data loss and frequent computer crashes.
You must be thinking, why do
people make viruses? And what do they do?
Computer viruses don’t just
“happen”; they are created often with great care, intentionally targeting
computers, systems and networks. But for what purpose these viruses are used?
They are used to infect
unprotected systems, gain admin control and hack into your drive and steal
sensitive data or just make everything run much more slowly and with more
difficulty. Hackers design computer viruses with malicious intent and prey on
online users by misleading them.
Unprotected systems are always vulnerable to computer viruses. An unprotected computer is like an open entrance for computer viruses.
Types of computer viruses?
Macro
Virus
A macro virus is a computer virus
written in the macro language that is used for software applications, such as
word processing programs. For example, Microsoft Word and Excel are widely used
programs that feature powerful macro languages. The languages are embedded in
documents that run automatically when the documents are open.
Macro virus can spread through
phishing emails containing attachments that have been infected with the virus.
The virus will then access the files in the user’s contact list and send an
infected email to everyone on the contact list. Macro virus spreads to other
computers through software programs that use macros.
A classic example of a macro virus is the Melissa Virus from 1999. Opening an infected email caused the email to send itself to the first 50 addresses in the user’s contact list.
Boot Sector Virus
A boot sector virus is a computer
virus that infects storage devices of computer- hard drive or diskette drive
allowing the virus to trigger as the drive or diskette boots. The virus changes
the default program with its own corrupted version and can take control of
basic computer operations.
The boot sector virus is created
to cause a variety of boot or data retrieval problems. Once a computer is
infected with a boot-sector virus, it infects the non-infected disks used by
the system. Examples of boot sector viruses are Michelangelo, Brain and Stoned.
Removing a boot sector virus can be tough because it may encrypt the boot sector. In many cases, users may not even know their computer has been infected with a virus until they run computer virus protection software. As a result, users must rely on updated virus protection software that has an extensive registry of boot viruses and the data needed to remove them safely.
Program
Virus
Program virus is a type of virus designed to infect other programs. They can modify or destroy files causing system crashes and program malfunctions. A program virus can infect executable program files with extensions like .BIN, .COM, .EXE, .OVL, .DRV and.SYS. These programs are loaded in memory during execution. The virus becomes active in memory and makes copies of itself to infect files on disk.
Email
Virus
An email virus has malicious code
that is sent with or attached to email messages. The virus gets activated when
a user clicks on a link in an email message, opens it or interacts with the
infected email message.
Email viruses can come in
different form and different ways. Some of them can be spotted as malicious
based on their subject lines which don’t make any sense, coming from a
suspicious sender or several other header fields and body content.
Recipients can find it challenging
to identify specific email messages containing malware since these messages
appear to be from a trusted sender. This is true in the case of phishing emails
that seem to be from a legitimate company asking you to provide sensitive
information.
An email virus may look simple, but one should not underestimate its capacity to damage your computer. An email virus can remove files, cause computer crashes and destroy data. It becomes necessary to remove email viruses, considering the possibility that a cybercriminal is behind it. The longer viruses are allowed to stay on your computer, the more damage they can do. Users must find a computer virus protection program to protect their computer.
How to protect your computer?
There are millions of computer
viruses that are in existence, and a hundred more are created every day. It’s
no longer a case of a surprise if your computer will get infected by a virus.
Your computer and your privacy are always at risk to be targeted by
hackers.
Let’s face it; the Internet is
not a safe place anymore. Hackers are trying to access your computer and
viruses of all kind are ready to attack your system. In such an environment,
how secure are you? Threats are there for any computer in any part of the
world. So, what’s the solution? How can you protect your PC or system from
virus and hackers?
Well, there are some actions you
can take to lessen the risk of picking up a virus, and you don’t have to be a
security expert to take a few basic safeguards.
Install an free antivirus program or computer virus protection software and keep it up to date to protect yourself and your computer from becoming a victim of viruses. New viruses come on a daily basis, so choose the best computer virus protection that is regularly updated by the manufacturer.
Best Computer Virus Protection Software 2020
Virus protection software is essential for every PC. Without it, viruses and malware may access your personal and private information without your knowledge. Discover the best computer virus protection software 2020 and safeguard your valuable data in the digital jungle.
AVG Antivirus, Norton Antivirus, Avast Antivirus, Kaspersky Antivirus, Malwarebytes Antivirus, Panda Antivirus, Bitdefender Antivirus, McAfee Antivirus, Adaware Antivirus and BullGuard Antivirus are popular brands in the world in the world of antiviruses. And, you can always choose to download free Virus Protection Software of any of this virus protection software to understand the features and benefits.
Devices, data, people- they are all connected and need more protection than ever. AVG Antivirus is a reputed antivirusbrand trusted for providing protection, performance and privacy solutions for consumers and businesses. It gives impressive security for your system that even updates itself automatically. It is easy to use, light and can be installed in moments on your PC. You can download it for free to get basic protection or can buy a paid version for full protection.
It can be used for Windows, MAC and Android. AVG Antivirus scans quickly and quietly without slowing down your PC. The computer virus protection software stops viruses, blocks malware, spyware and catches unsafe links, downloads, email attachments and much more before they reach your PC. Overall, it is a good security suite to install on your system.
Norton Antivirus gives you comprehensive protection when you go online. It protects your system, ensuring that your most sensitive information remains hidden from prying eyes. You can install and run it on PC, Mac, Android and iOS devices with a single subscription.
It gives real-time protection
against existing and emerging malicious threats. This computer virus
protection software can detect and delete viruses before they even try to
reach your system as it continuously tries to keep the computer clean.
You can check your email, shop online, pay your bills, and interact on your social network– you can do all with confidence as it protects your private and financial information when you go online.
Avast Antivirus offers a modern solution
for today’s complex threats. Simple on the outside, smart on the inside- Avast
Antivirus is your next-gen protection against cyber threats. The antivirus uses
6-layers deep protection to detect and stop harmful programs in just a few
seconds.
Avast Antivirus is one of the most popular antivirus programs available on the market. The antivirus software is easy to install and easy to use, thanks to its intuitive interface. With both free and paid antivirus protection plan, Avast is compatible with Windows 10, Mac, Android, and iOS. User can stay safe online and offline with this versatile security suite.
Kaspersky antivirus has been
trusted as experts in the fight against malware and cybercrime since 1997. This
antivirus program is easy to install and easy to use that automatically detects
and removes viruses without slowing your system down. It can be used for
Microsoft Windows and macOS, although a version for Linux is available for
business consumers.
The virus protection software comes in three different packages, and each has distinctive features of its own. However, a free trial version comes with basic malware protection and flags suspicious websites. You can protect your privacy, money, files, photos, family and more, which starts with protecting your PC using Kaspersky Antivirus.
Malwarebytes antivirus is an anti-malware software that blocks viruses, malware, malicious websites, ransomware and hackers that traditional antivirus isn’t smart enough to stop. It can be used for Windows, MAC, Android, iOS and Chromebook. You can download it for free or can get a paid or premium paid version. It is easy to use- Just set it, and it will do the work to scan for viruses and malware.
This computer virus protection software is intelligent, advanced and fast. It adds several extra layers of protection to your system without sacrificing endpoint performance. It combines powerful new technologies built to seek out, destroy, and prevent malware infections.
Panda Antivirus is the next-gen
antivirus that provides real-time protection against all types of malware and
spyware. It is secure, easy and lightweight for your device. Compatible with
Windows, Mac and Android, you can try it free for a month or get the paid
version. Install it and forget about viruses, spyware, ransomware, rootkits,
cyber attackers and online fraud.
This computer virus protection software protects while you browse, play or work online. And, you won´t even notice it is there on your device because all the work is done from the cloud and runs in the background. Using Panda Antivirus, you can avoid prying eyes and access your favourites sites wherever you are.
The performance of Panda Antivirus has been appreciated across the Globe as it is constantly coming up with new and innovative features to monitor, detect and block threats actively.
When it comes to virus protection software, Bitdefender Antivirus is a popular name among the user community that deliver the highest ranked performance results. Bitdefender Antivirus is an award-winning antivirus that is powerful, intuitive, ultrafast and featherlight for your PC. It can be used for Windows, Mac OS, ioS and Android. The setup procedure is easy and fast, that does not need special skill.
This smart computer virus protection sits quietly in the system tray area while remaining alert at all times and notifies users when detecting suspicious activity on the PC. You can have the total freedom to enjoy your computer, smartphone or tablet to the max with peace of mind when browsing, banking or shopping online. It comes with useful features including, device anti-theft, firewall, parental controls, social network protection and more, giving you advanced safeguards. Bitdefender Antivirus protects more than 500 million users worldwide and has been providing effective solutions to stay safe from malware and privacy invaders.
McAfee Antivirus is one of the most trusted and respected brands in the world of antiviruses. Easy to install and use, McAfee antivirus gives you the power to stay protected from the modern-day threats – viruses, ransomware, malware, spyware, unwanted programs, and more. It is compatible with laptops, desktops, tablets, and mobile devices.
This malware protection software has many useful features including antivirus, malicious URL blocking, file shredding, PC speedup tools, anti-theft for mobile devices, and more to keep your system fully protected. One great tool that comes with McAfee is social protection, specifically designed to scan your social media pages to ensure links and files posted on your profiles don’t lead to a dangerous site or a virus download.
Adaware Antivirus protects you against viruses, malware, spyware, phishing, online scams and hackers. It offers simple, worry-free solutions to safeguard your computer from online threats, so you can focus on the things that matter to you. The antivirus is compatible with Windows 10. It is easy-to-use and can be installed alongside other antivirus apps.
It comes with useful features including, real-time protection, active virus control, email protection, web protection, network protection and parental control. It gives you advanced safeguards that you need. One of its most significant selling points is that you can get it for free or buy the paid plans that fit your needs. It runs in the background monitoring the computer while the user is surfing the Internet. It automatically scans all the malicious files, documents and software before they get downloaded in the system. As a result, it is highly regarded as one of the best and most stable Anti-Malware programs on the market. When you choose Adaware Antivirus, you choose the award-winning virus protection software against all malware protection because it has received top scores from various independent testing laboratories.
BullGuard Antivirus is an
effective computer virus protection software that is able to safeguard
you and your PC against all types of threats such as viruses, Trojans,
keyloggers, adware, spyware, malicious scripts, and worms. The antivirus is
intuitive, user-friendly, and easy to use – simply follow the simple directions
during installation and be done with it.
Safe browsing is the BullGuard feature that keeps you away from dangerous and fraudulent websites. It also marks up links in Google, Yahoo, Bing, and Facebook, so you don’t even click dangerous ones. A green checkmark indicates the site is safe while red sign means a site you shouldn’t visit. BullGuard Antivirus comes in three packages, and a free trial version is also available.
While choosing an antivirus for your computer system, it is essential to keep in mind your requirements. Many antiviruses can affect the working speed of the system. Hence it is fundamental to choose a lightweight antivirus that provides a good level of protection. The upgradability of the anti-virus makes it adapt to the new malware and malicious programs quickly. A few of the top antivirus choices for laptops are- Quickheal Total Security Software, Kaspersky Internet Security, McAfee Antivirus, AVG Antivirus, BitDefender, Norton, and Avast. While picking an antivirus, it should be kept in mind that how much memory and space an anti-virus takes. An anti-virus using heavier RAM can slow down the computer processes.
Quick Heal Total Security is antivirus software from the firm named Quick Heal Technologies Pvt. Ltd. that is based in Maharashtra and it offers inclusive antivirus security including extra features like privacy and data protection as well as parental control. In addition to making your online banking secure, this Indian antivirus software also ensues robust safety and seamless Internet surfing for your system. This way, your financial information during online shopping and banking remain protected. Moreover, the feature of Parental Control permits you to control and manage computer and Internet access for the kids.
Due to the high demand for Antivirus programs in this world of gruesome cybercrimes, plenty of Antivirus programs are to be found in the market. Some of the prominent Antivirus programs are-
Norton Family Parental Control is one of the best Child Tracking apps. Norton is one of the leading AV companies and offers a wide range of security products along with a Parental Control mobile software for helping the concerned parents to track the location of their children without letting them know. Norton Family Parental Control is compatible with iOS and Android and apart from tracking down the location of the children, the program also offers useful features such as-
Block illegitimate websites that contain inappropriate content before they discovered by the children.
Access the browser history and the Youtube-watch history of the children.
Norton Anti-virus powered by Symantec has been the winner of the AV-TEST program for providing the best protection against malware and other advanced cyber threats. Indeed, Norton Antivirus protection is good enough since plenty of authorized companies, as well as millions of users, rely on the security protection offered by Norton. Apart from basic virus protection, Norton Antivirus also offers other internet security features such as – Download protection, on-time, and on-demand virus scanner, email protection, password protection, anti-tracker, anti-theft, webcam and microphone protection, call blocker and file vault. Norton Antivirus only offers brilliant features in a single pack but also works on each type of device such as tablets, pcs, smartphones and laptops, and compatible with Norton Antivirus macOS, iOS, Android and Norton antivirus for Windows.
One of the best antiviruses with great customer reviews is the Norton antivirus. It offers cross-platform robust protection and excellent customer support. It is one of the highest-rated antiviruses in the market with easy to download option. But it’s true that it’s a bit expensive compared to other antiviruses available. It is highly recommended for Windows and Mac and safely protects all private information of the user. It comes with a 100% promise for virus protection. It proved to deliver the best virus detection as well as elimination algorithms for the business. It has several premium features perfect to protect from all the latest and evolving threats for computer and personal information.
There are two types of antivirus programs, one that comes for free of cost and the other one is paid. The sole purpose of both of them is to offer protection against malware infection. The common features that come with both programs are scanning and firewall shield. While talking about the difference, Free antivirus offers only baseline virus protection when Paid Antivirus includes additional security features along with virus protection. Users have to renew the subscription after a specific span of time to enjoy the benefits of paid antivirus, while free antivirus does not require such formalities. Indeed, Free Antivirus programs can not compete with paid versions but can be relied upon if one is looking for baseline protection against malware. Paid versions offer internet security along with virus protection to stand against advanced threats and to prevent future threats. Paid antivirus also beats free antivirus in the criteria of system compatibility as it offers protection for relevant OS systems and works on various devices such as tablets, smartphones, Desktops, and Laptops. Almost all of the AV companies offer both Free and Paid versions of antivirus. Users can choose the ideal products for themselves as per their needs.
Malwarebytes Antivirus is considered as one of the best anti-malware software and its free version is certainly the most beneficial one to give a shot. Its developers religiously update it regularly permitting it for being completely equipped along with all the current issues and problems. There is a reason why Malwarebytes is regarded as an exceptional anti-malware tool as it not only detects ransomware, malware, and adware efficiently, but it can also work alongside any other antivirus in your system as well. Upon the installation, this anti-malware software comes with the 14-day trial period of premium paid edition.
Antivirus is installed to protect PC from viruses, trojans, spyware, adware, worms, phishing attacks, and other malicious programs. These programs can harm your PCs performance, steal your data and damage your files. To protect computers from these viruses, antivirus software is installed. This antivirus software detects, prevents and removes the malware from your PC. Many free antiviruses are available for free download. of the topmost choices for free antivirus are- Avast Antivirus, Avira Antivirus, Kaspersky Antivirus, Bitdefender Antivirus, Panda Free Antivirus, Sophos Free Antivirus, and others. All these can be downloaded from their official websites. They provide the basic protection for your PC and does not affect the overall performance of the PC.
Malware is malicious software or a program that affects the system adversely. These programs can be trojan horses, worms, spyware, adware, computer viruses, and other harmful programs. Anti Malware programs are created to protect computer systems from these viruses and malware. This malware can steal data, damage files, cause identity theft and affect the overall performance of the system. To protect a computer system from this malware,anti-malware software is installed. These anti-malware software detects, prevents and removes malicious programs from the computer and blocks entry of new malware as well. Best free anti-malware available online for free download are -Kaspersky Antivirus, Avira Antivirus, Avast Antivirus, Panda Free Antivirus, Bitdefender Free Antivirus, and few others.
Best Antivirus For Windows 7, the top choices are Avast, Kaspersky and AVG antivirus. Avast boasts of its extreme malware protection combined with inbuilt features for maximum protection. The scan is quick and efficient and can find out the most notorious of malware and threats. Kaspersky offers real-time security, excellent phishing protection and even gives a warning for unsafe websites. It also provides privacy protection and parental lock. AVG’s scan detects hidden malware, unwanted browser extensions and addressed PC performance problems.AVG also provides a free file shredder to safely delete confidential files. Apart from these three, Bitfender, Adaware and panda free antivirus are also an optimum choice.
A lightweight antivirus should be able to protect the PC without affecting its workings and speed. A lightweight antivirus should use less memory, scan fast and do not add strain to system workings. Each antivirus software varies from each other in terms of memory usage, scanning time and space it occupies. Most lightweight anti-viruses would be Avast, Panda cloud, Windows defender, Webroot and F-secure. Avast antivirus uses 9kb when idle and 62 kb for scanning. Norton antivirus uses 10kb and 77kb for scanning. Kaspersky pure uses 14kb when idle and 82kb for scanning. Memory usage and resulted speed are also taken into account when looking for a lightweight antivirus.
Parental Control is one of the most desirable features as it is very helpful for those parents who are concerned about their children’s access to the internet. Parental control app or service allows the parents-
to limit the internet usage of their children.
to determine the screentime of the games their children play or the videos they watch or the apps they run.
to block illegitimate websites that contain inappropriate content from being discovered by their children.
to track the recent location their children had been, this not only helps the parent to check upon their children but also helps them to take precautionary measures if their children are into some danger.
to lock files or apps with a password to prevent children from doing any mess.
You can download the Parental Control app separately or can go for Internet Security programs that also covers the feature of Parental control.
Norton Family Parental Control is one of the best Child Tracking apps. Norton is one of the leading AV companies and offers a wide range of security products along with a Parental Control mobile software for helping the concerned parents to track the location of their children without letting them know. Norton Family Parental Control is compatible with iOS and Android and apart from tracking down the location of the children, the program also offers useful features such as-
Block illegitimate websites that contain inappropriate content before they discovered by the children.
Access the browser history and the Youtube-watch history of the children.
There is no denying the fact that Kaspersky is one of the best antivirus software that not only provides you with a comprehensible and no-nonsense interface but also makes it a point that your system does not slow down. Its unbeatable malware security and excellent level of protection are what make this reputed antivirus software company stand out from the others. Along with guarding you against the virus on your Android devices and PC, it also stores and secures your private documents and passwords. Kaspersky does a fantastic job in defending your system against infected files, viruses, suspicious sites, and dangerous applications.
Norton provides many different packages, all designed for different needs of the customer. These packs are – Norton Family Premier, Norton Security Premium, Norton Security Deluxe, Norton Security Standard, Norton Secure VPN, Norton Antivirus Basic, Norton Utilities Premium and Norton Mobile Security for iOS. Norton Security Premium helps protect up to more than 10 PCs while Deluxe protects up to 5 PCs.Norton Secure VPN protects your private information when using public wifi. Norton Antivirus Basic provides protection for one computer system only. Norton Security Standard provides a basic security layer for 1 PC, 1 Mac or 1 mobile device. These subscriptions vary from one another, based on customers’ requirement.
Since Windows 10 comes with a preinstalled AV program namely Windows Defender, Windows 10 users can already enjoy the baseline security benefits such as malware protection and real-time scanning. But this free program can not stand alone against all advanced cyber threats like spyware, trojan horses, keyloggers, email viruses, ransomware, and many more unidentified malicious contents. Kaspersky Total Security comprehends essential security features like VPN, Real-time malware protection, Safe browsing, Web-cam protection, Parental control, Spyware defense, Safe vault, privacy protection, and password management to offer optimum Internet Protection against all cyber threats. In this point of view, Kaspersky Total Security Suit definitely does the job with accuracy to offer protection for Windows 10 and hence, can be considered a good one.
Frontier Virus Protection differs from other AV programs as it is powered by F-secure. F-Secure possesses the highest score in various security tests conducted by independent labs and features acute Browsing security such as Blocking malicious websites that do not have a secure protocol in their URL address, antiphishing, online banking protection, realtime defense against sudden malware attacks and parental control. But based on the public reviews, Frontier virus protection, although powered by F-secure, is not a top-notch AV product as the users are facing technical malfunctions lately while running the program on their devices.
Malwarebytes offers multiple layers for ensuring absolute virus protection to your PC and Smartphone as well as makes it a point to achieve thorough spyware and malware removal. Not only this, but it also provides users with unique ransomware protection as well. The proven technology of Malwarebytes crashes Mac malware’s growing threat and proves to be a smart enough cybersecurity option for the same. The reputed antivirus software also secures endpoints against the cyberattacks with the multi-layered approach which leverages dynamic and static techniques at the attack chain’s every stage. It integrates security with EDR i.e., Endpoint Detection and response capabilities through the single agent for eliminating complexity.
When it comes to the best Antivirus in today’s market, Bitdefender Antivirus Plus 2019 surely takes the cake here as it provides you with well-grounded regular protection. With only Windows as its operating system and the ability to cover a maximum of 3 devices, the best features of Bitdefender Antivirus Plus include –
• Ransomware remediation and protection
• Privacy tools
• Safepay
• Optional VPN
• Subscription includes the frequent updates
• Password Manager
Boasting more than 500 million users, Bitdefender offers the complete-featured package and also as per several test results, its antivirus products have score high ratings.
