How to Choose an Antivirus Program
Antivirus is software that’s designed to monitor, detect, and prevent malware threats like viruses, ransomware, Trojan horses, worms, spyware, and rootkits from infecting your devices or damaging your data. It uses signatures and heuristic detection to look for common traits of malware and then flags them as potential problems. It also scans for known threats and updates its malware database regularly to keep up with new ones as they emerge.
When choosing antivirus software, consider its detection rates as well as price, user reviews, and compatibility with your operating system. Detection is the most important aspect of antivirus programs, as it’s what allows them to identify and block malware before it can cause damage. Most programs will have a number next to their detection rate that gives you an idea of how well they perform in controlled tests.
Many antivirus programs will offer the option to schedule scans at set times, so you don’t have to remember to run them. They may also have on-access scanning, which starts a scan as soon as you open the software or access a file. You’ll want to choose a program that offers both options, and you should avoid those with a single-access scan option as they are less effective.