Stability Networks Blog

When you set up a computer for the first time, a lot of techno-jargon gets thrown around.  Like a short couple in a Big & Tall store, anti-virus and anti-malware always seem to stand out but are often little understood. People wonder which one they need or if they need both or none at all. Sorting this out on your own can be very confusing.

The bottom line is that you should have both anti-malware and anti-virus software. Not doing so increases the chances that rogue software can affect both the health and security of your PC. To explain why it is necessary to have both, this article will focus two pieces of software recommended by Stability Networks: AVG Anti-Virus and Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware Pro.

It is important to have an understanding about what malware and computer viruses actually are. The term “malware” refers to any software intended to disrupt the normal operation of your computer. This can include, among others, spyware, adware, Trojan horses, rootkits and computer viruses themselves. Meanwhile, a computer virus is specifically defined as a program that can copy itself and infect a computer.

With that understanding, one might easily wonder what the point is in having anti-virus software when you could just have an anti-malware program that does it all. The answer lies in an understanding of the how the two types of software work.

As a first line of defense for computer security, anti-virus software, such as AVG Anti-Virus, is designed to remove most, if not all, types of computer malware. To clarify, the term “computer virus” is often used (albeit erroneously) as a catch-all phrase for any type of malware out there. Because that use is substantially more common than the specific definition, programs that remove malicious software are referred to and marketed as “anti-virus” programs.

Publishers of legitimate anti-virus software are often large companies with a large team of researchers that focus on the most current and dangerous malware. Those researchers regularly update a database of definitions that the anti-virus software checks against when you scan your computer. If a file displays the characteristics of one that has been infected with malware, the software will alert you and assist you in removing the file. When you are not doing a scan, it constantly monitors your system for anything bad.

Anti-malware software like Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware Pro works a lot in the same way but differs in its focus. “The majority of the research that goes into [the software] is based on what the anti-virus vendors are failing on most frequently,” said Bruce Harrison, Vice President of research at Malwarebytes as found on their company website. Essentially, anti-malware is there to detect and remove what your regular anti-virus might miss.

Harrison also mentioned that their software is not an anti-virus. It is important, as noted by Samuel Lindsey, Product Manager for Malwarebytes, to not to have one without the other. “You should absolutely have anti-virus software along with a good firewall and, of course, a good anti-malware application like Malwarebytes’,” said Lindsey. The two types of programs are meant to work in harmony with each other.

In conclusion, while Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware Pro and AVG Anti-Virus are industry-leading software in their respective areas, one alone is not the end-all be-all of computer security. That is why at Stability Networks we recommend to have both installed to provide the multi-layered approach that today’s computing world needs. With both you can know that you are doing your part in making sure your data is safe and secure.

85: the percent of email sent that is spam. 8600: the number of new malicious websites created each day. 1500: the price some organizations charge to send out 32 million spam emails. 1,300,000,000: the number of attempts to infect someone’s computer a year.

The numbers are staggering and the threat is real: cybercriminals are working hard to take control of your computer and compromise its security. The numbers are increasing but so are the solutions available to combat these problems.

Prevention and cure are the focus of these solutions. Things such as firewalls and anti-viruses are designed to constantly monitor a system or network malicious activity and stop it from causing any problem. These programs also provide a cure to remove the problem if it somehow makes it on to your system.

In this piece, we will look at four different security solutions, what they do and what they protect against. Whether it is a business looking to secure a critical network infrastructure or an individual looking to keep their workstation running well, following these guidelines will ensure that your computer can endure the constant attacks of cyber criminals around the world.

OpenDNS:

When you go to a website, a DNS server helps direct traffic to the correct place (more information on Wikipedia). Normally your internet server provider does this but OpenDNS replaces it, allowing you more control. As an organization dedicated to DNS services, they focus a lot on security. It can prevent users from accidentally accessing bad websites and downloading malicious files. It also prevents any software that might have made it on to the computer from communicating with the outside world and thus often preventing its spread.  OpenDNS also improves employee productivity.  OpenDNS can be configured to allow or disallow access to specific web sites (e.g. prevent access to social media sites like Facebook or MySpace).

Here is an example of a threat that OpenDNS protects against:

Botnets

• A botnet is a type of malware that allows a command and control server to take control of a computer, effectively rendering it a “zombie” system. Once a computer is taken over by a botnet, it might be used unsuspectingly to attack other computers or distribute spam emails.

Anti-virus and anti-malware:

This security solution is one of the most important. Software like AVG Anti-Virus and Malwarebyte’s Anti-Malware Pro both provide real-time monitoring to help prevent malicious software from infecting a computer. Extensive virus definitions help these programs to remove any malicious software if it did get on the computer. To understand why these are so important, click this link.The following are types of threats that anti-virus and anti-malware software protects against:

Computer viruses

• A computer virus is defined as piece of software that is designed to infect a computer and then spread to another computer. The virus will often overload system resources making a computer difficult to use.

Rogue security software

• Rogue security software will pose as legitimate anti-virus software stating that the computer is infected and that only they can remove the problem. They are, if fact, the problem that needs removed because if it is installed, it will reduce the functionality of your computer and often display unsolicited advertisements. Click this link to learn more about rogue security software.

A firewall is the first line of defense in securing a network. Like a moat around a castle, a firewall keeps unauthorized connections from getting into an internal network. Placed before an internal network, a firewall uses a predefined set of rules to keep bad traffic out and allow legitimate traffic to pass through, keeping the network safe.

Here is an example of a threat that a firewall protects against:

IP spoofing

• IP spoofing is the creation of internet packets with forged address for the intent of concealing the identity of the sender. When data packets are sent across the internet, it contains, among other things, the address of the source and the address of the destination. Hackers use IP spoofing to fool a network into believing that the malicious data they are sending is from a trusted source.

Email security software helps protect your email inbox from spam and malware. Email security software is set up to work in line with a company’s email vendor to filter emails before they get to the users inbox. Email is a common way for malware to spread and email security software helps stop that.

Here is an example of a type of threat that email security software protects against:

Phishing scams

• Phishing is described as a way to acquire personal information such as usernames, passwords and bank details by impersonating a trusted source. Used as a type of social engineering, phishing emails often look and feel of legitimate company communication but will ask a user to enter their credentials to prevent something bad from happening. Spelling errors are a common way to detect this of scam.