Cyberattacks have become all too common these days. And many businesses are vulnerable to them, no matter the size.
If you’re a business owner or just someone who owns a PC, you should consider protecting your computer from these threats. This will keep your personal and financial information secure.
You can do this by installing effective, dependable antivirus software.
Choosing which one to get can be overwhelming. So many options exist today, each with its own specs, requirements, scopes, and limitations. For those with only surface-level IT knowledge, all of this may sound like random jargon.
Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place. This post talks about seven features you should look for in high-quality antivirus software. You can use it to narrow your choices and find the one that suits your needs.
Whether you want a personal or business antivirus program, here’s what you need to know.
1. Real-Time Scanning
Whenever you access something through the web, you have to navigate through pages and channels that host a wide number of unidentified entities. Many of them don’t have your best interests in mind.
That’s why it’s crucial to have real-time scanning in your antivirus. This feature lets you go through computer files, folders, caches, cookies, third-party programs, and the like in an instant. This lets you monitor and pin down threats as you go online.
What’s great about this feature is that it also comes with quick risk removal. Once you identify a threat, you immediately have the option to stop and dispose of the malicious file, app, or program. With this, you can clear your computer of threats at a moment’s notice.
All antivirus programs offer this. But the best ones scale directly to your computer’s performance. This means the software’s scanning shouldn’t slow down your computer. Go for one that uses minimal resources to achieve comprehensive scans.
You should also check the software’s detection rate to see how well it performs. The manufacturer’s website should tell you this. But you’ll get a clearer picture by also going through forums or reviews about the antivirus program.
2. Malware Detection
Malicious software, or malware, can come in many forms. These include viruses, Trojan horses, adware, spyware, ransomware, and worms.
These are designed to infiltrate and damage your computer system, steal personal information, or take your data for ransom.
Since cybercriminals constantly create sophisticated iterations of these things, the antivirus software you get must have an extensive virus database. This should also be regularly updated.
Check your prospective software’s specs to see if it handles its malware detection this way. This should tell you it’s scalable and therefore a great choice for your device or systems.
3. Automatic Updates
Speaking of updates, these should come automatically for all parts of your antivirus program, regardless of the usage scheme. This is the only way it can truly offer the protection it promises against threats.
The software company should regularly provide security patches to address new vulnerabilities and enhancements to ensure your system stays safe and protected.
4. Firewalls
These are common-sense features all computers should have. Like its real-life counterpart, firewalls provide a barrier that detects and blocks unauthorized access to your system.
The antivirus software you choose must give you the option to monitor incoming and outgoing traffic. So, choosing one with a two-way firewall is best.
5. Email Protection
Email scams continue to be a common threat these days. They’re practically unavoidable, especially if you’re running a business that goes through so much communication online.
Having email protection should help you sort suspicious emails in an instant. You don’t have to worry about running scans every time you open your email app this way. Instead, you receive alerts that a message has been isolated due to a lack of traceable authentication and erroneous information.
6. Easy To Use
This should be a given. Antivirus software that seamlessly guides you through its installation and configuration while taking only a little bit of your time should get you the protection you need much sooner. An intuitive interface is also a plus.
7. Technical Support
Even the most sophisticated software can encounter glitches at any time of day. But if it fails you when you need it the most, you should have a way to get the issue fixed quickly.
Reliable technical support ensures you get solutions and assistance whenever you encounter a problem with your antivirus software. It being 24/7 goes without saying.
Tech support can be done through channels you can use anytime, including email, live chat, or phone. Ideally, the manufacturers should also provide customers with a troubleshooting guide and an FAQ sheet on their website.
Stay Protected
In a time when cyberthreats are becoming more sophisticated and prevalent, getting an antivirus program with the right features can make all the difference. Ultimately, your choice will fall to your specific needs and preferences. Nonetheless, you can make an informed decision on which to get with this information.