We talk a lot about malware, infections and the need to use effective antivirus solutions. When we talk, however, not all we talk is true. There exist some common myths when it comes to the case of malware and infections. Knowing them is a vital step to stay secure. If you believe something wrong and bring that habit into practice, it’s harmful for your security. In this article, we have covered the top and well-known malware myths and realities.
So, after you finish, you would know about the actual concepts regarding malware, attacks and security.
Myth #1 — An Antivirus Software is Enough to Protect your PC against All Malware
Well, this is one of the serious myths, seen even among experienced computer users. It’s a fact that antivirus software is meant to give you better protection from malware and other threats. However, absolute security is a myth and no sort of antivirus is able to protect you from all threats — at least, as of now. Unfortunately, most of the anti-virus programs are limited to ‘viruses’ only. There are many other kinds of malware, including but not limited to ransomware, Trojan, rootkit, key loggers etc.
Read: Do you Really Need to Buy an Antivirus Program
Practically speaking, it is not possible to seek protection from all these via single antivirus suite. One thing you can do is to install two types of protection tools — one fully-fledged antivirus and another anti-malware suite such as Malwarebytes. This way, without the issues of overload, you can have a standardized level of protection.
Myth #2 — We Can’t Afford Antivirus Software, due to High Price
Yes, there are people who don’t install antivirus suites, because they think like this. Nevertheless, as a matter of fact, the pricing of antivirus software is comparatively lower. For less than $40, you can have effective protection suites, thanks to several discounts and promotions. If you are not ready to pay, you can at least get one of the free antivirus suites around. As you may know, most of the popular developers are offering a-bit-limited anti-malware protection suites with some of prominent features. So, never ever commit the mistake of not installing an antivirus suite — because you think it’s pricier to afford. Check our cheapest deals for Bitdefender, Kaspersky, Norton and many other antivirus programs.
Myth #3 — Every Mac is Malware-Free and Can’t Be Infected
There was a time when Apple Mac devices were not concerned about the threat of malware. It was because several kinds of reasons — first, the lack of number of the devices and, second, the secrecy of the code used. Despite all these, it’s an entirely different scene today. We have been seeing serious malware attacks towards Mac in the past few years. In fact, hackers are desperate to bring something malicious into the Mac devices, obviously due to the benefits ahead.
Read: Does your Mac Really Needs an Antivirus Program?
We have also seen some ransomware stuff that affected Mac devices in the time past. So, never think your Mac has unbreakable layer of security. On the other hand, it’s time to think and get an effective security suite and make secure digital habits.
Myth #4 — We Can Identify Malware Infection Easily
“I know when my PC is infected — and I don’t care until I know” This is what most people think about malware infections and this is the most dangerous myth we’ve seen in the tech world. It’s a fact that there were viruses, in the old days, that showed a particular message after a PC was attacked. The whole attacking culture has now changed and it’s now about keeping the activities as silent as possible. Without giving you even a single sign, the malware will be using your system resources and stealing your personal information. And, in most cases, you can’t determine the presence of malware by looking at your PC screen. Therefore, if you think that there is something suspicious going on inside the PC, get an effective antivirus suite and perform a scan. If you have an antivirus, you have to use the up-to-date virus definitions and perform scans on a regular basis.
Myth #5 — There’s no Point in Updating Software
Most people don’t give value to the task of updating software they have installed in their PCs. As opposed to the common conceptions, there’s a lot of connection between software updates and security. As you know, hackers always try to find loopholes and vulnerabilities in every popular software. At the same time, the developers roll out the proper updates with patches and more features. It works as a cycle and for those who follow the cycle are much secure than they think. So, if you are not updating the installed software, you are actually exposing yourself to hackers. They may find some kinds of vulnerabilities in your system and start stealing your data or money. So, as opposed to this myth, you should always try to run the updated software in your system.
Myth #6 — It’s Easy to get over Malware Attacks
Well, you cannot easily get over a malware attack. And, the intensity of threat depends upon the infected malware. If you are talking of some Trojan Horse viruses, you may have access to the PC in a few simple scans and formatting. However, if that’s a ransomware or other serious issues, it’s like losing your computer and all the data you have stored in there. So, the process of fixing the damages caused by malware attacks isn’t that simple. So, it’s a good decision to protect yourself from the attacks, instead of seeking a cure thereafter.
Summing Up
So, these are the top and well known malware myths and realities you should know about. As we said, as a person who is conscious about security, you should be well-aware about the myths and fact. After that, you will be able to take useful decisions about security and extended actions. We hope this coverage of the common myths will surely help you, in one way or another. Do you know any other common myths? Comment below.
