Do you still need antivirus software? Yes.
Why? Because malware, in all forms, is still pervasive on the Internet and it wants to attack you, steal your information, and ruin your online experience.
Many operating systems are now baking in some form of security or antivirus.
Let’s take a look at the Windows 10 operating system. Windows Defender is incorporated into the OS so you shouldn’t see an obvious dip on performance from your PC. You don’t have to install or configure anything. The key here is to make sure that you are performing regular Windows updates in order to keep Defender running at it’s optimum.
What about Macs? Generally the Apple OS is more secure that Windows PCs. Mac users can be lulled into a false sense of security because the number of Mac users is relatively small compared to PC users and so may be less of a target for the cyber criminals. More recent versions of the MacOS include the GateKeeper function that will prevent anything other than Apple approved software from being installed.
Linux? Linux systems are also more secure than Windows. However, antivirus is a crucial component in your overall security posture.
Remember, although Apple OS and Linux are not targeted as widely as the Windows OS that does not guarantee that it won’t happen to you.
The use of antivirus software alone will not completely protect you from malware.
- Update hardware/software/apps
- Restrict administrator access
- Remove unused/unwanted apps
- End user training
- Update browsers
- Make regular backups
No software is fool proof and there is always the chance of something slipping through the net. Be vigilant in your digital world and you will likely have a safer experience.
Resources:
The best Mac antivirus of 2019