What is an antivirus?

Posted by Sofie Bosma Monday 6 March 2023

Antivirus is a programme to provide protection against digital (computer) viruses. Those viruses often aim to render your device unusable or to cause damage to you as a person or company. Large companies are often targeted victims of digital viruses and cannot do without antivirus software these days. Individuals are less often targeted, but often fall victim to a new type of virus in large attacks, in bulk.

You use an antivirus to protect yourself from viruses. An antivirus ensures that viruses do not stand a chance and often helps you with smart tools to increase your security. Think of a VPN to secure your connection, a cloud backup to secure your files or ways to secure your online identity.

Today's virus scanner is much more than a protection to keep out a computer virus. A free virus scanner protects your computer against basic viruses, nothing more. For real, complete protection, you need much more.

Antivirus software in the past versus now

Antivirus software used to be mainly designed to remove viruses. The first virus scanners were designed to regularly scan all the files on your computer to see if any viruses were installed. If a virus was found, the programme would try to clean it up and remove the virus. Usually, the software did a scheduled daily or weekly scan for the whole computer. The problem with this neutralisation technique was that the antivirus programme was actually already too late; in fact, the virus was already on the computer.

How does a virusscanner work?

These days, antivirus programmes are much more geared towards preventing viruses. An antivirus programme scans everything that comes in and goes out over the internet connection. In this way, the software provides a check on everything you do. Do you click on a file or open a website? Then the virus scanner finishes checking before you see the result. You can therefore safely do what you wanted to do.

With the changed perspective of virus scanners, viruses have also changed. Now that everything is scanned beforehand, viruses are made to go unnoticed. Viruses regularly impersonate normal internet traffic. For example, it may appear as if you receive a normal e-mail with a pdf attachment, but in reality it turns out to be a virus that is installed as soon as you open the pdf or even just when you download it.

What security does a modern antivirus offer?

What security does a modern antivirus offer? Modern virus scanners today focus on providing security for all connected devices in your home or business. Think about it: the printer is connected to wifi, we use smart lighting and even the TV is connected to the internet. Every device that has an internet connection creates a new route for a virus to enter your home or business. Then the virus quickly spreads through all other connected devices. This is why it is extremely important to equip all devices that connect to your network - via Wi-Fi or a LAN cable - with antivirus software.

What should you pay attention to when choosing good antivirus?

When choosing a good antivirus, it is important to know what protection you need. These days, you often have as many important files on your mobile phone or tablet as on your computers. And for businesses, the location where you store files (for example, a server, NAS or Cloud storage service such as Onedrive or Google Drive) is the first thing you need to start securing.

File locations (including in the cloud) should be secured against ransomware with a backup, because even cloud storage needs security. Read here why cloud storage services like OneDrive and Google Drive do not back up your files.

How much security does a free antivirus offer?

We can easily answer that question: none. A free virus scanner may sound appealing, but it is not of much use to you. Free virus scanners are in all cases created by big security brands with the aim of selling a paid package. All a free package does is scan for viruses. Often the old-fashioned way.

A free antivirus package offers less proactive security, no protection on your passwords and Wi-Fi settings, secure banking is often not included and a VPN is definitely never included. Let alone a free virus scanner that allows you to backup to the cloud so you can be saved if something really goes wrong. You also have to watch advertisements that are supposed to make you buy more products.

And did we mention that free virus scanners are often only for Windows? So you are not protecting your mobile devices, Mac computers or all the other smart devices in your home network. In short, cheap is often expensive. Especially in this particular area.

You pay with (privacy-sensitive) data

There is another important argument to consider when thinking about a free virus scanner: you are paying with your data. Your data is sent to the cloud so that the makers of the virus scanner can use this data to optimise the results of their antivirus programmes. The question is whether you should want that. After all, you can buy a package that offers much more security for just over 10 euros a year.

What is missing from a free antivirus?

Here is what is missing from a free antivirus and should be expected in most paid packages:

A module for secure banking
Removal of ransomware viruses
Monitoring and securing your WiFi network
Privacy protection
Backup
VPN for a secure connection
Password manager to secure your passwords

Does everything have to be paid for then?

Well, not necessarily. In fact, there is something you can do that doesn't cost money. You can always make sure your online identity is maximally secure. You do this by using a different password on every website you create an account on. In addition to that unique password, which you don't use anywhere else, add 2-factor authentication for an extra layer of security. With 2-factor authentication, you log in as usual with a username and password. Then a code appears on your phone, which you also have to enter. This way, no one can ever log into your account without having the code on your phone.

Conclusion: antivirus for worry-free internet use

Overall, it is wise to be aware of the fact that viruses develop at a fast pace. Therefore, think carefully about what you need in terms of antivirus. Do you have smart devices in your home? Do you work a lot in the cloud and want your files and data to be safe on your mobile devices too? Whatever applies to you, in these digital times you would do well to opt for a solid virus scanner so that you can use the internet without worries.