Why does one need Antivirus Software?

 

Why does one need Antivirus Software?

If viruses are no longer a major threat, why do I need computer security?

Viruses are just one type of malware. Although viruses still exist, there are other forms of malware that are more common today. For example, these are some common threats that Malwarebytes can stop:

• The adware is software designed to display unwanted ads on your screen, often in a web browser but sometimes in mobile apps. Typically, it pretends to be legitimate or is attached to another program in order to trick users into installing it on their PC, tablet or mobile device.
• The spyware is malware that secretly observes user activities on your computer without your permission, and transmits this information to the author of the software.
• A virus is malware that attaches itself to another program and, when activated, replicates itself by modifying other computer programs and infecting them with its own code.
• The worms are a type of malware that resembles viruses in both propagate, but do not require user interaction to activate.
• A Trojan , or Trojan horse, is more of a spreading method for infections than a type of infection itself. The Trojan is presented as something useful to trick users into opening it. Trojan attacks can carry any form of malware, including viruses, spyware, and ransomware.
• The ransomware is a type of malware that blocks user access to the device or encrypt your files and then forces him to pay a ransom to return them. The ransomware is considered the favorite weapon of cybercriminals because it requires a quick and profitable payment by criptomonedas difficult to trace. The code behind a ransomware attack is easy to obtain from online repositories of criminally used applications, and difficult to defend against.
• A root kit is a type of malware that provides the attacker with administrator privileges on the infected system and actively hides itself from the normal user of the computer. Rootkits are also hidden from other software on the system, even from the operating system itself.
• A keylogger or keystroke recorder is malware that records all the user's keystrokes, stores the collected information and sends it to the attacker, who is looking for confidential information such as usernames and passwords or credit card details.
• The mining malicious cripto-monedas , also called involuntary or mining crypto jacking , is a malware, or attack browser - based, increasingly frequent distributed across multiple methods of attack, including malspam, involuntary downloads and applications and fraudulent extensions. Allow other people to use your computer's CPU or GPU to mine crypto currencies such as bit coin or monero. Crypto currency mining malicious programs use your computer's resources but send the obtained coins to their own accounts, not to those of the owner of the computer. Simply put, a malicious crypto currency mining program steals resources from your device to earn money.
• The exploits are a type of threat that takes advantage of errors and vulnerabilities of a system for the creator of the exploit transmit malware. Among other threats, exploits are linked to malvertising, an attack that uses malicious advertisements, on otherwise legitimate websites, to transmit exploits. You don't even have to click the ad to be affected - exploits and accompanying malware can get installed on your computer in an inadvertent download. All you have to do is visit a good place on the wrong day.

How does anti-malware work?

The old-school method of signature-based threat detection is effective to some degree, but modern anti-malware also detects threats using new methods that look for malicious behavior. In other words, signature-based detection is a bit like looking for a criminal's fingerprints. It's a great way to identify a threat, but only if you know what the criminal's fingerprints look like. Modern anti-malware takes detection one steps further so that it can identify threats you've never seen before. By analyzing the structure and behavior of a program, you can detect suspicious activity. Continuing with the analogy, it is like realizing that a person frequents the same places as known criminals and also carries a pick in his pocket.

This newer and more effective computer security technology is called heuristic analysis . "Heuristics" is a term that researchers coined for a strategy that detects threats by analyzing the program's structure, behavior , and other attributes.

Every time a heuristic anti-malware program analyzes an executable file, it examines the overall structure, programming logic, and data of the program. At the same time, look for things like unusual instructions or junk code. In this way, it evaluates the probability that the program contains malware.

Also, a plus for heuristics is its ability to detect malware in files and boot records before the malware has a chance to run and infect your computer. In other words, heuristic anti-malware is proactive and not reactive. Some anti-malware products can also run suspicious malware in a sandbox, which is a controlled environment in which security software can determine whether or not a program can be safely deployed. Running malware in a sandbox allows anti-malware to see what the software is doing, the actions it takes, and whether it tries to hide or compromise your computer.

Another way that heuristic analysis helps keep users safe is by analyzing the characteristics of web pages to identify risky sites that could contain exploits. If it recognizes something suspicious, it blocks the site.

In short, signature-based antivirus is like a nightclub doorman consulting a large photo album and forbidding access to anyone who matches. Heuristic analysis is a gatekeeper who looks for suspicious behavior, searches people, and sends those carrying weapons home. 

Advances in computer security programs

Two relatively new forms of malware have helped drive the advancement of non-signature-based detection methods: exploits and ransomware. Although these threats are similar to others in many ways, they can be significantly more difficult to detect. In addition, once the infection occurs, it is almost impossible to eliminate.

Exploits get their name because they literally exploit vulnerabilities in a system, software, or web browser to install malicious code in various ways. Anti-exploit measures were developed as a shield against this attack method, protecting against Flash exploits and Internet browser weaknesses, including new exploits that have not been identified or vulnerabilities that have not yet been patched. .

Ransomware entered the malware scene in 2013 in spectacular fashion. The ransomware became notorious by hijacking and encrypting computer data, then extorting money by demanding payment while keeping the hijacked data, and even threatening to delete it if a deadline expired without receiving payment.

These two threats originally sparked the development of specialized anti-exploit and anti-ransomware products. In December 2016, Malwarebytes included anti-exploit technology and protection against malicious websites in the Premium version of Malwarebytes for Windows, and has since added anti-ransomware features for even more advanced anti-malware protection.

The future of cybersecurity software (already here)

The artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are the latest stars of the anti-malware technology.

AI enables machines to perform tasks for which they have not been specifically programmed before. The AI ​​does not blindly perform a limited set of commands. Instead, the AI ​​uses "intelligence" to analyze a situation and takes actions to achieve a goal such as identifying signs of ransomware activity.

Machine learning is programming that is able to recognize patterns in new data and then classifies the data in a way that teaches the machine how to learn.

In other words, AI focuses on creating intelligent machines, while machine learning uses algorithms that allow machines to learn from experience. Both technologies are ideal for computer security, especially since the number and variety of threats that appear on a daily basis are too overwhelming for signature-based methods or other manual measures. Both AI and machine learning are still in development, but they hold immense promise.

In fact, at Malwarebytes, we already use a machine learning component that detects never-before-seen malware, also known as zero-day or zero-hour . Other components of our software perform behavior-based heuristic detections, which means that they may not recognize certain code as malicious, but have determined that a file or website acts differently than it should. This technology is based on AI / machine learning, and is available to our users as real-time protection and as on-demand scanning.

For IT professionals who need to protect multiple computers, the heuristic approach is especially important. We never know what the next big malware threat will be. Hence, heuristics play an important role in Malwarebytes Endpoint Protection, as do AI and machine learning. Together, they create multiple layers of protection that address all stages of the attack chain for both known and unknown threats.

It's better to prevent than to cure

From desktops and laptops to tablets and smartphones, all of our devices are vulnerable to malware. Given the choice, who would not prefer to prevent an infection rather than have to deal with the consequences ?

So what do you need to do to stay safe? What type of computer security software – antivirus software or anti-malware - should you choose to address a threat landscape consisting of traditional viruses and emerging malware?  

The fact is, traditional antivirus alone is not up to the challenge, as evidenced by the continued emergence of press headlines reporting new successful cyber attacks. It is insufficient against zero-day threats, allows ransomware to successfully hijack computers, and does not completely remove malware. What is needed is an advanced computer security program that is flexible and intelligent enough to anticipate today's increasingly sophisticated threats.

Malwarebytes for Windows meets this need for advanced computer security (along with Malwarebytes for Mac , Malwarebytes for Android, and Malwarebytes business solutions ). Malwarebytes products protect against malware, hacker attacks , viruses, ransomware, and other ever-evolving threats, helping to maintain a safe online experience. Our AI-enhanced, heuristic technology blocks threats that traditional antivirus can't stop.

Industry analysts have singled out Malwarebytes for Windows for its layered protection approach that provides reliable protection without degrading system performance. Eliminate all traces of malware, block the latest threats, and perform scans quickly.

Whatever computer security you choose, your first line of defense is training. Stay up-to-date on the latest threats and protection by reading the regularly.