Antivirus programs are essential in any PC or laptop. They act as your first layer of defense against any malware you may encounter. Having one helps ensure your files, information, and even computer access is secure. While it can be an issue at times, having a good antivirus program and keeping it up to date can help your PC in the long run.
For those still unsure, this article may be able to help. Here are some ways a good antivirus program can help protect you.
Website Blocker
Several antivirus programs can block a website as soon as you enter them. Antivirus companies have a database of risky websites and can prevent you from accessing them. These sites may contain malware, phishing tactics, or even malicious downloads. While you can create exceptions, it is always a good idea to follow what these antivirus programs recommend.
Real-Time Scanning
All antivirus programs have the ability to scan your connected devices (USBs, phones, etc.) These can be done via schedules or manually activating the scans. Several antivirus programs take this to the next level, scanning your devices as soon as they connect to your PC. This gives you alerts in case of anything potentially malicious in the files.
There are plenty of ways to get viruses from browsing online. A simple misclick and you may find your browser downloading items you did not authorize. Pop-up screens for instance can spam your screen with a single wrongly pressed button. These malware attacks can also be very creative, and sometimes even a veteran user can make mistakes. Antivirus programs with real-time protection guarantee these mistakes never harm your PC.
The Cons
While antivirus programs offer great protection, they are far from perfect. Here are some factors you should watch out for when dealing with these programs.
Performance-Heavy
One of the main issues with antivirus programs is that they can eat a lot of your PC’s resources. Running active scans for instance can make other programs slower. For laptops, running these scans can drain the battery very quickly. This means that you may not be able to scan your hard drive while away from a charging station. Doing so may leave your laptop low on battery with you having no means to recharge.
Running scans can also prevent you from running other performance-heavy programs at the same time. Video games for instance can suffer from lag or sluggish action because of an ongoing scan.
False-Positives
Another issue with antivirus programs is that they can sometimes create false-positive results. These programs are not perfect, and can treat normal files with its protocols. This may end up with files deleted, programs removed, and websites blocked. The solution is simple, all you need is to find the files in its database and make the necessary changes.
There are tons of antivirus programs available on the market. Each one has its own strengths and weaknesses. Some require low resources, making them blend in the background. Others cover more, but also need more processing power. Finding what fits you is the first step in ensuring PC security.