Most people have antivirus on at least one of their devices; however, you would be surprised to learn how little they know about it. Not only that, but you would be surprised at how many false beliefs they have about the way antivirus software works.
Overconfidence is a slow and insidious killer; nothing breeds overconfidence as ignorance. It’s even worse; we’re not discussing the scenario you don’t know about. We’re talking about myths – something you believe you know—that will lead you to all the worst conclusions and decisions.
Here are seven such myths!
1. Free Antivirus and Premium Antivirus Are the Same
The first and biggest misconception about antivirus software is that there’s no difference between free and premium versions of the same software. This is just not true. According to tech expert Krishi Chowdhary from Techopedia, all it takes is to look up any free vs paid antivirus comparison to see the difference.
The fundamental difference between primary and comprehensive protection is hard to compare. While essential protection will keep you safe from viruses, malware, and phishing, you’ll probably have to upgrade your plan to get protection from ransomware and spyware.
Also, remember that with a free antivirus, you get a limited number of features and no advanced features. You’ll often get a firewall, VPN, and parental controls with a premium antivirus. This is a bit more expensive, but count on the potential cost of getting all these features individually. The VPN alone could exceed the cost of this premium plan.
In other words, while free antivirus is better than no antivirus, a premium plan gives you the optimal value for your money.
2. Antivirus Slows Down Your Computer
This myth is not a false claim in a conventional sense. It has some basis in reality. Sure, modern antivirus systems don’t slow down modern computers. However, in both of these statements, the emphasis is on the contemporary.
A modern antivirus is developed to work optimally. It shuts down all unnecessary features, has a standby mode, and minimizes its CPU consumption overall, which wasn’t the case in the past.
Modern hardware is also incredibly potent. The reality is that, in the past, you could only run so many processes because your processor and RAM were so limited. In the past, an antivirus could easily occupy 5-10% of your computing capability. Today, it’s a fraction of a percent, which is barely noticeable.
The same goes for your internet connection. Today, broadband is much faster than it once was.
In other words, the most honest way to tackle this particular myth would be to say that most modern antivirus software NO LONGER slows down your computer or your internet connection.
3. It’s Only for PC
Arguably, the biggest myth about antivirus software is that it’s just for PCs, and you don’t need to have it on your other devices. In reality, all devices are susceptible to malware, and antivirus apps exist for each of them.
Just think about the way you use the internet. Do you use a single device when downloading, watching streaming services, or wagering on anonymous casinos? Probably not. You’re far more likely to use your phone, laptop, and tablet. So, why not have an antivirus system installed on all of them?
The truth is that your activity, not your device, decides whether you need an antivirus. There are trojans, malware, ransomware, and classical viruses for all sorts of devices and OSs, which is why the only sensible course of action is to get a tool to protect you from all of them.
4. It Protects You From All Threats
The key thing you have to keep in mind is that antivirus doesn’t protect you from all the threats out there. Just think logically: why are there antimalware, firewalls, and VPNs? Why do you use other means of protection if anti-virus is all that it takes?
Sure, some antiviruses use these other tools as a part of their premium package, but even then, they’re not standalone, solve-all solutions. You still need other tools, and you still need to be careful in your online conduct. Staying safe is more complex than you originally thought, but with the right tools, you can make it into a passive effort. You just install the tools and let them do their magic.
So, in order to stay safe, you need to use a wide array of cybersecurity tools. Still, this is more than worth it for someone who spends a lot of time online or works online.
5. Only Windows Is Vulnerable to Malware
This is also one of the biggest myths out there, and it is so credible because it is (partially) true. The thing is that Apple devices can also get viruses; it’s just that Windows is a much larger market, and, as such, it’s more appealing to potential hackers. This is why there are so many Windows-targeting viruses out there.
Even if you are using a Linux-based system, which is believed to be impervious to viruses, you need to understand that these Linux-running devices always operate on mixed networks. This means that even if you are immune, you are still at risk of spreading the virus to other devices on the network.
6. You Have to Run Antivirus Software Manually
Once you install an antivirus, that’s it. You no longer have to worry about it. Sure, you may have to set it up eventually to authorize its activity or an update, but, for the most part, the tool will automatically start whenever you boot your device, and it will work all the time in the background.
You make problems manually, not solutions. Every time you actually have to use your antivirus system manually, it’s either to create an exception or pause it so that you can download something that it won’t let you. Will this always backfire? No, but chances are that it might.
The safest course of action is just to let your tools do their job and just listen to its sage advice.
7. Threats Are Obvious, so You Should Just Be Careful
One of the worst misconceptions out there is the idea that you don’t need an antivirus if you’re careful. People who believe this have a binary vision of the world where all the threats are obvious and come from unverified sources.
They forget all the Zero Day exploits of official software by major publishers. Even mods for games sold on platforms like Steam can contain malicious code or viruses.
Most people, however, are completely oblivious of this. The problem with this line of thought is that it gives you a false sense of security. Even if you have an antivirus program that warns you about a specific file, the fact that you trust the source may make you ignore the warning, add it as an exception, or just pause the software until you get it done.
This way, you’re shooting your antivirus system in the leg. It will do everything right, recognize the threat, and warn you, and you’ll effectively prevent it from doing its job.
Understanding Antivirus Is the Prerequisite to Using It Right
The most important thing about antivirus software is that you know what it can and can’t do. You need to know what the essential protection does and what the extra protection gives you.
That’s also great to know. Keep it on all your devices, no matter what OS they use. Knowing how to use something correctly is the best way to do it.
