The best antivirus software provides solid protection against malware as well as a variety of other cybersecurity protections, and exceptional performance on all operating systems. It should be lightweight on your PC so that it doesn’t slow it down or even crash.

Traditional antivirus programs checked for viruses by looking at files as they were written to disk on devices or downloaded from the internet. If a file was suspicious, the software would block or delete it, preventing the spread of malware. The software was effective in fighting viruses that were common, but as the number of new malware threats increased quickly over the past decade, legacy antivirus tools struggled to detect new attacks and stop them from causing damage.

EDR (Enterprise Endpoint Detection and Response), also known as antivirus replacements, uses an entire set of prevention technologies in order to stop and identify everything from malware that is standard to new threats that have never been detected. This approach has proven to be more effective than traditional antivirus tools that use signature-based detection.

Whether you require an antivirus program is contingent on your level of common sense and how much you use your this content computer. A quality antivirus program is crucial if you go to sites that are not safe, download pirated programs, or have no other security measures for cybersecurity. If you’re a Mac user that only uses the app store and keeps your security high you may be able to go without one. However, every user should at least consider getting an antivirus tool to protect against phishing attacks.