Antivirus App 101
Both Android and iOS users face numerous threats from malicious apps nowadays. These insidious programs sneak their way into official app stores to infect users. A proactive cybersecurity app that safeguards your device from malware is essential nowadays to protect your device’s performance, security, and privacy.
What is an antivirus app?
Threats such as adware, spyware, stalkerware, ransomware, Trojans, and common viruses can negatively impact your smartphone or tablet’s performance by consuming important resources such as memory, space, and processing power. They can also put your financial security at risk by stealing your passwords or hijacking your data for ransom. Spyware can leak sensitive information such as your login credentials, credit card details, location, messages, pictures, and videos.
An antivirus app is a cybersecurity tool that protects your device from different types of malware. It proactively stops threats before they can become a problem. It also protects you from threats like malicious links, unsafe websites, phishing messages, trackers, etc.
Difference between antivirus and anti-malware
A virus is just one type of malware. Other kinds of malware include adware, worms, spyware, Trojans, rootkits, and ransomware. Most viruses are legacy threats; however, the term “virus” has stuck.
There is little difference between antivirus and anti-malware apps nowadays. Technically, most modern antivirus apps are anti-malware tools as they defend your system from different kinds of malware, including viruses.
Do antivirus apps work?
Do antivirus apps work? The short answer is yes. The longer answer is that modern antivirus apps work by proactively shielding your Android or iOS device from malware and its infection vectors.
Our cybersecurity solutions use signature-detection technology to stop known threats in their tracks. Malwarebytes software also uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to stop unknown threats by identifying malicious patterns and shielding systems from new viruses and other forms of malware before they gain a foothold.
Choosing a security antivirus app
With researchers finding hundreds of thousands of new Android malware samples every month, selecting the right Android malware protection tool is essential. Likewise, good anti-malware for iPhone can stop complex threats such as ransomware or spyware that targets Apple users.
- Pick an antivirus app that uses advanced technology to detect and remove dangerous threats automatically.
- The antivirus app should stop malicious websites, online scams, ads, and trackers and identify suspicious texts.
- Whether you need an iPhone antivirus app or an Android antivirus app, pick a cybersecurity tool that complements your baked-in security system.
- Most mobile devices have limited resources. Your antivirus app should be light and use little memory while crushing threats.
- Your security app should also respect your privacy. Avoid antivirus security apps that secretly spy on users. Trust an established name in cybersecurity like Malwarebytes.
When to download an antivirus app
The best time to download an antivirus app is now. Modern malware is quite sneaky. It can modify its code to avoid detection from signature-detection systems. It also relies on social engineering tactics like phishing, spoofed websites, and malicious links to breach your phone or tablet’s security.
An antivirus app will shield your device from known and emerging malware and threat vectors. Not only do antivirus apps defend your devices, but they’re virus removal apps too. Install an antivirus app immediately if you notice symptoms of a malware infection.
How to install an antivirus app
It’s easy to install an antivirus app on Windows, macOS, iOS, or Android. Computer users should download the latest version of Malwarebytes, click install and follow the instructions. Android and iOS users can locate, download, and install the Malwarebytes antivirus app from Google Play or the App Store, respectively.
Smartphone antivirus apps
Antivirus apps for iPhone
While iPhone virus and malware infections are uncommon, they still happen. Scammers target iPhone users through phishing attacks and unofficial download channels. To their credit, Apple bans rotten apples from the App Store — but not always before fraudulent transactions occur.
Moreover, iPhones face some highly sophisticated attacks because many high-profile users prefer Apple’s products. This is illustrated by the dangerous Pegasus spyware. A creation of Israeli cyber-arms company NSO Group, the covert malware could read text messages, document passwords, track locations, access a phone’s camera and microphone, and follow calls.
Antivirus app for Android
Even if you’re a cautious user who avoids unsafe websites, links, and downloads and steers clear of apps that ask for unnecessary permissions, you should use an antivirus app for Android. Due to the open nature of the Google Play store and the Android operating system, sneaky and dangerous malware is always a threat. Android security software will shield your system and help you with Android virus removal needs.
Antivirus apps for computers
Antivirus app for PC
With researchers finding hundreds of thousands of new strains of malware every day, downloading an intelligent antivirus app for Windows is necessary. Many of these malware strains attack users through web-borne attacks, and the baked-in Windows security tools don’t shield third-party browsers like the popular Google Chrome by default. Additionally, Windows offers poor anti-ransomware security that regularly throws up false positives. A good antivirus app will protect your security and privacy by stopping viruses, worms, spyware, adware, keyloggers, stalkerware, Trojans, rootkits, and ransomware.
Antivirus app for Mac
It’s a myth that Macs don’t get viruses. In fact, the myth was probably started by Apple in a decades-old advertising campaign. The truth is that Macs get viruses and other types of malicious software. In fact, in our State of Malware Report, we found that Mac threats were outpacing Windows per endpoint. To protect your data and your computer, download a light and effective antivirus solution for Macs that complements Mac’s built-in security tools.