It’s no secret that the refinement and frequency of cyber attacks has grown steadily in the last few years, partly because AI opened the doors to even low -skilled threat players to launch successful attacks. So if you think you are too small, think again – there is a great opportunity that someone will target you randomly in a spray attack.
That said, you can definitely minimize any potential damage and bypass the danger of investing in skilled cyber security software. The question is which one?
This is where the best antivirus software and the best anti-malware tools come into play. While often used exchanges, these tools actually serve different purposes and are complementary parts of modern security efforts.
Join us as we explore the most important differences and help clarify which one to use.
Anti-Malware: Targeted protection
As the name suggests, anti-malware software is designed for reset on a particular cyber threat called malware. Granted, this can be confusing as malware is often labeled as a virus and vice versa, but they are actually different.
Malware is an umbrella term for different types of attacks or software that includes ransomware, Trojans, spyware and viruses. So a virus is a type of malware that damages your devices through self -replication.
So where does the anti-malware tools fit in?
Simply put, they generally use advanced detection techniques and removal functions to protect your device from all sorts of malware, not just viruses.
Take, for example, behavioral analysis. Many anti-malware offers rely on it to recognize suspicious activity on a device that proactively protects you from security threats.
Sandboxing is another technique that is quite popular as it isolates the troublesome file and allows it to run freely in a simulated environment separate from your system. In this sandbox, the tool can safely analyze the behavior of the suspected file without putting your device at risk.
However, it doesn’t stop there. Even if you were using an antivirus, there is a small option for a piece of malicious software snow through your defense. In this case, anti-malware programs are very useful as they can recognize hidden malware that regular antivirus software is unable to identify (at least not yet).
It is likely that the best example of this is root kits malicious programs designed for stealth that integrates deeply within your device computer and can change system processes. This gives remote access to attackers who then have free reins to perform their shady business, such as stealing your data or using your computer to launch additional cyberattacks.
However, the biggest advantage of anti-malware programs is their ability to handle new threats (which are often more sophisticated) and new exploits that emerge with an alarming frequency.
Antivirus: Overall protection
As mentioned earlier, viruses are a type of malware that itself replicates to infect new devices (hosts). E.g. If File Infector is a popular virus that locks itself on a file and once opened, the virus code performs and damages other programs or replicates itself to other files.
Although the name alone may suggest that an antivirus only goes after, yes, viruses, today’s incarnations are effective against different types of malware. The primary difference is in terms of detection.
While anti-malware takes a more real-time method of detecting threats, an antivirus depends on signature-based detection comparing code or files with a database of signatures (fancy words for patterns). This is not to say that antivirus is paralyzed when facing an unknown threat, as it often uses heuristic analysis to investigate suspicious behavior in the code to recognize modified or unknown pieces of malware.
Although anti-malware is still better at catching new threats, antivirus solutions go beyond malware. In addition to the core protection engine, these apps can make wonders for your overall security and often come up with additional features such as a password administrator, firewalls, VPN and a secure browser.
Who are these solutions built for?
Answering everyone would be a cop-out, but to a large extent antivirus software is practically built for most general users. This makes perfect sense as it often includes phishing protection (blocking sites that can steal your personal information) and spam -filters that block malicious e emails that everyone can benefit from.
Anti-Malware, on the other hand, is generally employed by high-risk users, such as remote workers, players or those participating in activities such as P2P sharing.
It is also useful for general browsing, especially since threats of cyber security only become more of a problem with each day that goes. So everyone can take advantage of installing anti-malware, regardless of their perceived risk level.
Can antivirus and anti-malware work in tandem?
The short answer is yes.
A combination of broad protection provided by an antivirus software and more sophisticated defense from anti-malware may become the core of your layered digital security system.
Look at it this way – an antivirus is ideal for the front lines and is enough to protect yourself from ordinary threats you need to encounter online. If a sneaky piece of malware comes through it, your anti-malware tool will be ready to neutralize the threat.
In case you are overwhelmed by the prospect of having to install two different software, you have nothing to worry about. While you can definitely go for separate tools, a lucky fact is that lots of suppliers recognized the need for software that combines the best of both worlds. Thus, you have no trouble finding antivirus suites that use sophisticated anti-malware techniques to get rid of online pests.
Best antivirus software with anti-malware capacities
Although some of these popular antivirus solutions in no way have a comprehensive list, strong anti-malware capacities have.
For example, BitDefender refers to his behavioral analysis as a “process inspector” and is definitely able to give you a layered defense that gets the job done. In addition to using machine learning to mitigate threats, Bitdefender also uses sandbox to evaluate the true risks of suspicious files – no wonder it is on our list of best antivirus software.
Another option is NORTON 360, which is capable of AI-driven detection and comes packed with Nifty Security features such as Dark Web Monitoring, Cloud Backup, Parental Control and a Secure VPN (among others).
Other suppliers such as McAfee and Avast are all viable options. In fact, Avast’s ‘Behavioral Shield’ is a standard protection included even in its Freemium version.
Given that anti-malware capacities become a cornerstone of the world of antivirus suites, it is difficult to make a choice. However, don’t worry. Your search for the optimal security solution will probably boil down to prices, features and how well they run. In other words, most of the major name providers are quite effective in defending you against malware.
Cases, most third-party tests confirm that these solutions are rather darn powerful when it comes to malware protection. For example, recent malware tests performed by AV comparison laboratory on various AVs reveal that the top providers often have online detection and protection as high as 99% (99.6% in case of Avast).
Ofline detection numbers are often the same, which means you can rely on these suppliers to keep sure to hurt when you review the Internet.
Are these tools enough to protect you from malware?
Antivirus and anti-malware share a lot of common features, where the most important differences are that the former delivers targeted protection and the latter offers a wider level of security. If you fear that using only one will leave you with shiny holes in your defense, you are free (even encouraged) to run both in tandem or buy a solution that combines both to make sure all bases are covered.
Remember that the best defense against cyber threats is your common sense. Despite having almost perfect detection speeds, there is always a possibility that a hacker finds some way to sneak a harmful piece of software on your device that an anti-malware solution can overlook.
Depending on how you look at it, an antivirus with all security extras can be potentially dangerous if it leads you to throw caution against the wind. Think of it as nothing but a useful tool that is only there to make things easier for you, not like an infallible shield that keeps you safe in all scenarios.
While staying at the top of cybersecurity threats is not an easy task, to thread easily through the digital realm of digital and to make full use of contemporary protection will minimize your chances of falling prey for a cyberattack significantly.
