Unprotected computer systems can fall victim to unwanted or malicious viruses or malware which is why you often hear that you should protect your computer with anti-virus or anti-malware software to ensure your private data and computer are safe. The real question is what is the difference between viruses and malware and what do you need to know about the programs used to combat them?
Virus versus Malware
Let’s begin with the differences between a virus and malware. A virus is a type of malware that is intended to replicate and spread, while the term malware is often used to describe malicious or unwanted software on your computer. Malware is a blanketed term that can refer to viruses, spyware, Trojans, worms, and other common threats.
Each category of potential threats is not mutually exclusive and, in some cases, can display behavior that can carry over to another category. Knowing that there are unpredictable elements to the potential risks your computer might face, can help you select the right type of protection for your computer.
High-quality software will protect you from 95% of malware, whether it’s a well-known or a brand-new threat on the marketplace. Here are a few more tips for picking the right protection for you:
- Don’t rely on the built-in protection your PC or Mac® computer offers.
- Select a product that won’t present conflicts with the other software on your computer.
- The program you select should be the most recent version so that it is the most up to date protection.
- It should offer automatic security scans so that you do not have to manually run them.
- The program should not have an impact on the performance of your computer.
If you still have questions about protecting your computer with anti-virus or anti-malware software, contact Geeks on Site. Our team is on call 24/7 to provide you with round-the-clock service.