Many people understand the need for antivirus software on their computers, laptops, smartphones, and other devices. However, that understanding can sometimes never go beyond the mindset that leads to someone installing antivirus software, running a scan, setting it to automatic, and moving on. But is that enough? Is antivirus software alone enough? Well, it depends on several things, but here’s a deeper look at the conundrum.
Table of Contents
Malware and Viruses Aren’t the Only Threats Out There
The biggest computer-related scare for people in the past was the thought of a virus getting into their computers. Installing antivirus software made all the sense in the world, even during the days when such programs came with some problems of their own.
Antivirus software grew and got better over the years and can usually work seamlessly with whatever platform it’s designed for. However, viruses aren’t the only concern with cybersecurity anymore. The threats to computing devices have evolved, transformed, and present wholly new challenges and potential issues that everyday people need to stay cognizant of and defend against.
Also, devices have changed dramatically. It’s not just the desktop you need to worry about. It’s also your smartphone, tablet, laptop, router, smart home, and IoT devices. Each of these devices requires just as much protection as a desktop needs. Maybe more protection, in the case of devices people spend huge amounts of time on, such as smartphones.
Everything presents a potential pathway for malicious code or threat actors to get into your home network and into your devices. This goes far beyond just viruses and other malware. Although protection from those things has just as much importance, especially since many of the potential threats exist specifically to inject malware into your devices.
The Sheer Growth in Threat Sophistication Matters
An antivirus program can do a lot for you, but there are new and highly sophisticated threats out there that go far beyond what any antivirus program can typically handle.
Some threats involve roping in all your devices to contribute processing power to stage a larger attack on another system.
Some threats quickly lock your computer, encrypt all its files, and leaves your antivirus software in the same state as everything else on the device.
Some threats involve using your device to mine cryptocurrency without you having any idea it’s going on.
Some threats involve malicious scripts running when you click something seemingly innocuous.
The many recent successes of ransomware shows that the game is a lot different these days. These aren’t the threats that most antivirus software can easily deal with.
Antivirus Doesn’t Always Do So Well With Email Threats
To this day, email phishing scams still lure people in and guides them toward sharing personal information or downloading malware. Many antivirus programs have a tool or protocol to help protect people from phishing and other email-based threats.
However, antivirus programs aren’t the best at this task, especially since it’s usually a human error that allows these scams to work and proliferate. Phishing scams have also become more sophisticated. Beyond that, phishing has moved heavily into text messaging, which is another area an antivirus program might have trouble monitoring.
Antivirus Isn’t Web Protection
Web and online security hold an extreme amount of importance these days. A larger number of threats to your devices come directly from online activity. While some antivirus programs have some web monitoring features, it’s not always enough considering the threats that can infect a system just from online activity. A dedicated web protection solution will usually do better than an antivirus program.
Antivirus Can’t Always Keep Up with the Threats
These modern threats are constantly growing and changing. Antivirus software sometimes can’t keep up. Still, antivirus software is the best defense against malware, even new malware, as long as the developer keeps the threat database as current as they can.
The problem is, when something gets past the antivirus protection, you can end up with malware or some other threat living on your device, completely undetected. Other security protocols can help to pick out the threat and alert you to it.
Also, it’s important to note that not all antivirus software works the same way. Some antivirus programs can detect threats that others can’t. There’s no perfect antivirus program. Having additional protection can help a lot when antivirus software fails or struggles.
You Still Need a Dedicated Antivirus Solution
All that said, people should know that antivirus software hasn’t remained stagnant. Many modern antivirus software packages are, in fact, full security suites. The core antivirus functionality is still there, but you will find a lot more in these packages, such as a VPN, dedicated email and online protection modules, or password generation and storage features.
In this way, the argument may seem more like one of semantics. No, antivirus alone isn’t enough. However, most modern antivirus software contains a plethora of additional cybersecurity features, add-ons, and modules to extend protection. Antivirus software isn’t obsolete, it’s just one part of a larger cybersecurity solution.
Besides, antivirus software does something other protection methods either can’t do or struggle with. This points to the importance of antivirus software and why it’s still a keystone for any serious cybersecurity solution.
Also Read: Best Ways To Defend Against Cyber Attack
