How does antivirus software work and protect our PC?
The role of an antivirus on a Windows PC has always been a bit confusing for the users. Some believe that they are crucial as an antivirus protects your PC from unnecessary viruses, malware, and malicious software/files. On the other hand, there are several beliefs that such programs are of no use and are just a facade.
If you have doubts and want to know how an antivirus protects your PC, then this post is for you! Keep on reading as by the end of this one, you will be able to identify every aspect of an antivirus. We will also share the best antivirus you can opt for so stay tuned for that!
What is an Antivirus? Overview
Antivirus software, as we all know, helps keep data safe from cybercriminals. They have been around nearly as long as viruses that call for their use. This software checks the web pages, files, folders, software, applications, connected devices, and each part of the system for infections. When a threat is detected, the antivirus or security tool running on the system blocks and removes it from the system.
This gives the user peace of mind, as the computer virus designed to damage and infiltrate the operating system is taken care of by the antivirus you are using.
How Does Antivirus Work?
You might have a basic idea of what an antivirus does. It scans your files and compares the integrity of files with the database to determine whether they are safe or not.
Viruses are no different than a normal software program. They operate similarly; however, their intent is not genuine.
Computer viruses are designed to harm your system and steal data. They contain a signature (fingerprint) that sets them apart from other genuine programs running on the system, making them unique and recognizable as a threat by the antivirus software.
Antivirus software to identify a file as genuine or infected scans the signature of each file. When a malicious pattern stored in the database is detected, the file is flagged as malicious. This is one way of detecting malicious files. But what about the latest viruses, details of which have not yet been added to the database?
Antivirus programs use heuristic detection to overcome this problem. This means instead of depending on one signature, they combine related ones and detect threats. Alongside, antivirus software also uses sandboxing. This means the antivirus software will run the file or software considered malicious and observe its behavior. It is classified as an infected file if anything different from normal is detected.
Types of Infectious Files that Antivirus Software Can Protect Us From
If we go into further detail about viruses and their types, we can find that there are different types of files, used with different intentions to cause different issues on a PC. While your internal security measures may help you stay safe from basic viruses, you need to have a professional antivirus program to stay protected from all types of files.
- Spyware – information-stealing threats.
- Computer Viruses – unwanted programs that enter the system without the user’s knowledge replicate themselves thus affecting the system’s performance and user data.
- Worms – are malware replicating itself without human interaction and causing damage without attaching themselves to a software program.
- Adware – advertising-supported software- is distributed within the software or forces users to install additional software to earn money.
- Phishing Attacks – a social engineering attack that steals user data, including credit card numbers and login credentials.
- Malware – short for malicious software is an umbrella term for viruses, worms, trojans, and other nasty threats that harm the system and its functioning.
- Trojans – a type of malware that disguises as legitimate software.
Besides, there are other types of threats like keyloggers, smishing, etc., from which an antivirus protects us.
Signs your System is infected
Though antivirus software requires no special reason to exist on a PC and must be installed by default, there are a few signs that can give you a better idea that the system requires it. Whenever an infected file makes its way to your computer, certain issues pop out on the PC. These issues are the signs that your PC has been infected and an antivirus program is required.
Some such signs are –
- Slow system performance
- Frequent crashes
- Unnecessary Pop-up Ads
- Data loss
- Unable to connect to the internet or open files
If any of these issues exist on your computer, you have no other option but to use antivirus software as that is the easiest and your best option to resolve them.
Which is the best security program to Use? T9 Antivirus!
Knowing the crucial nature of the antivirus software and how it can help with maintaining the performance of your PC, you may be wondering which is the best security program for your PC.
Relatively new when compared with popular names like Norton, McAfee, and others, T9 Antivirus has managed to make its name. This security tool, in every aspect, is better than Windows Defender. It has higher threat detection rates, better web protection, ad blocker extension, and more.
Moreover, when a user tries to access any malicious site on any browser, T9 Antivirus blocks it and shows an alert message.
T9 Antivirus includes:
- Real-time protection
- Malware protection
- Exploit protection.
- Web protection
- Firewall protection
Also, it gives the option to optimize the PC, shred files, manage startup items, get Systweak VPN, and a password manager.
How to use T9 Antivirus?
To use T9 Antivirus and protect your PC from threats like malware, viruses, spyware, keyloggers, and others, follow the steps below:
1. Download and install T9 Antivirus.
2. Run the best antivirus tool to scan the system for infections.
3. Click the Scan Types option from the left pane to select the scanning mode.
The tool offers three scanning modes –
- Quick Scan – scans critical system areas for infections
- Deep Scan – scans folders, subfolders, and all the parts for threats. It is time-consuming.
- Custom Scan – gives users an option to select areas to scan that take much longer than Quick Scan.
Pick any to scan the system for threats.
Note : Deep Scan is in-depth, thorough & time-consuming. Therefore, we recommend using it when the system is idle.
4. Wait for the scan to finish.
5. T9 Antivirus will now list all the infected files and quarantine them.
6. You will get the summary once the scan is finished.
That’s it. Using these simple steps, you can keep your system secure. Also, note that T9 Antivirus offers real-time protection and runs in the background without interfering with any process. Unlike other security tools, it is light on system resources, and its database definition does not take up space on the system.
That’s why it is a recommended security tool. Overall, T9 Antivirus is a well-designed tool with an excellent and advanced malware scanner. With an impressive detection rate, this antivirus software for Windows is a must-try.
Prevention is Always Better Than Cure! Get an Antivirus Today!
If there’s one thing you can be sure of, it is the fact that an antivirus can help you prevent any mishap on your PC. Hence, protect your files and PC’s integrity by using the T9 Antivirus. Download it today and make the most of your PC without worrying about third-party files affecting it!
Hope this information was helpful. Let us know if you have any doubts about the antivirus programs and how it protects your PC. That will be all for this post. Thanks for reading, good luck!
