The Rising Need of Antivirus Software

 

The Rising Need of Antivirus Software

Computing is based on the use of programs or applications to perform certain functions with computers. In general, these programs have a utility and their use is beneficial for the user, who decides to use them more or less voluntarily and freely.

 

However, there are some programs whose objective is just the opposite: to cause damage or harm to the computer or its users. These programs are usually installed without the consent or knowledge of the user, and are called viruses. Its name is precisely due to the fact that these programs are capable of self-replication, multiplying virally and infecting an infinite number of computers, by entering camouflaged in another larger file, using the same system as a real virus.

 

The damage caused by these, in general, small programs can be very varied, from simply a small annoyance, a funny message, to causing the loss of a large amount of data, blocking the computer, stealing confidential information or even causing irreparable damage to the computers systems. It has been the case of viruses that have managed to collapse entire networks causing the loss of all their data.

 

Fortunately, due to the growing importance that information and computers have in today's society, there are companies dedicated to the development of software called security . One of the best known and most used is the type of program called antivirus, which is based on being able to detect existing viruses, and if it finds them, prevent them from infecting the computer or eliminate them if they have already done so. Antivirus Software is an almost essential application, and more currently, since when browsing the Internet we are exposed to being infected both when browsing web pages, and when downloading or executing files from the network.

 

The main problem with antivirus is that new viruses are born every day, and therefore they must be updated frequently to be able to detect new threats. It is estimated that more than 1000 new viruses are released each month. And that's not to mention the so-called malware or malicious software, which without being a virus itself, installs itself on the computer to obtain personal information. That is why it is so important to have an antivirus and use it, as to have it updated. Most of the current antivirus not only protect against viruses, but against many other forms of attack: probes, Trojans, spyware, adware ... offering relatively complete protection to an average user, especially if they are combined with firewalls. Large companies and even governments use antivirus with advanced security systems and multiple firewalls to protect their information from outside attacks. It is logical to think that the greater the importance of the information to be protected, the greater the security systems must be.

As the years go by, computer attacks are on the increase and become more sophisticated, seeing us in a need to have installed on our computer and mobile equipment - personal and business - an Antivirus security suite, to be immune or that the impact of the attack affect us as little as possible.

A large number of users do not have Antivirus software installed on their computers, since they believe that they will never be affected by some type of virus; but they are the ones who are most exposed to an attack via social engineering. In second place are users, who install a “pirate” Antivirus or Free Antivirus;.

On the Internet there are a large number of free Antivirus, as well as millions of e-mails or notifications that inform that the "computer is infected". These messages contain an attachment or downloadable file that claims to be an antivirus that, in addition to protecting us, will eliminate that virus that puts our computer security at risk, but in reality, it is a virus that will infect your system just by opening or running it.

For its part, we can also find a wide portfolio of cost security suites that will offer us a high level of protection and the necessary tools so that the infection rate is lower. For example, Norton Antivirus software offers protection against viruses, online threats, identity theft, and the growing trend, financial scams.

The advantages of purchasing a Antivirus or a security suite are:

·        Real-time protection: These programs notify us when we visit an infected web page, in many cases access is blocked.

·  Data signature updates:  The data signature is continuously downloaded with viruses discovered by the company.

·     Automatic system analysis or removable devices:  It is not so necessary to do a system analysis, since security platforms are periodically executed automatically while the user performs other activities on their computers.

·      Parental Control: For the most part, Antivirus has the option of controlling what we want the little ones in the home to visit or download, as well as preventing what type of information they are prohibited from sharing.

It is important that users acquire security software to avoid being part of financial fraud, identity theft, information theft and even hijacking of computer equipment, where we will have to see practically a need to have to format the computer and lose all information that we have stored on our computers.