National Cyber Security Awareness Month (#NCSAM ) – Tip #2 from Senior Online Safety – Keep your security software current. What is security software? Security software is your anti-virus or anti-malware software, browser safety software, etc. There are many different providers such as Symantec, McAfee, Kaspersky*, etc., all of whom provide a basic product for a nominal cost. Their anti-virus/anti-malware products are continually updated and allows you to keep your security software current automatically. But if the budget is tight, there are a number of providers of free anti-virus/anti-malware solutions, which are solid offerings and also are updated on a regular basis by the creators. But it isn’t enough that the software provider keeps their software and data sets updated, it only works if you regularly (every day is a good cadence) check for an update from your anti-virus/anti-malware provider.
Why do you need this type of software on your PC? We have always understood crime exists in our cities, it should be no surprise, that crime also exists on the information superhighway, the internet. Malware (malevolent software) is created to exploit vulnerabilities in settings, software operational capabilities and the like. The avenues by which malware is delivered to your devices include web pages which you open with your browser, email attachments, and physical digital storage devices (USB sticks, CD;s etc.). Which should you use? As previously indicated there are a great many providers, so it may appear to be overwhelming, but there are also a number of studies conducted each year which exams and rates the effectiveness of the various offerings. AV-Test is one such entity which looks at products directed at those using Windows based systems or Android. Each year AV-Test conducts a review of various products in the anti-virus/anti-malware arena, rank orders the product, explains what it does and then puts their seal on the product as having been tested and certified, here is their list from the most recent test: AV-Test Best Internet Security Suites.
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*Prevendra, Inc. has an affiliate marketing relationship with many companies. Kaspersky Labs and AVG are two such companies
Prevendra, Inc. tiene una relación de marketing de afiliados con muchas empresas – Kaspersky Labs Y AVG son dos de estas empresas
We selected two separate entities, each which conducts assessments of security software, each year. Direct links to those survey results is provided, and the top five identified from each survey.
The good folks at AV-Test tested a selection of security products and advised the top five anti-virus programs (on a scale of 1 to 18) are:
- Bitdefender – 17.2 points
- Kaspersky Lab – 16.0 points
- Norton Anti-virus – 15.5 points
- Avast (Free AntiVirus) – 15.2 points
- F-Secure – 15.2 points
- G Data – 15.2 points
While the review team at Top Ten Reviews identify their choices for the top five anti-virus programs (on a scale of 1 – 10) which are:
- Bitdefender Antivirus Plus – 9.8 points
- Kaspersky Anti-Virus – 9.6 points
- Norton Anti-Virus – 9.57 points
- F-Secure Anti-Virus – 8.77 points
- AVG Anti-Virus – 8.75 points
Prevendra reached out to each of and established a formal relationship with each of the top five companies so to be able to avail their goods to our readers at exceptional values: