Antivirus

Here is what you need to know about free antivirus software

If you are using Windows 10, you will almost certainly already have a free antivirus courtesy of Microsoft. So why would you need to pay for one when you already have a security solution present? Well, here are some genuinely good reasons why you should opt for a paid antivirus application.No-go for businesses?In general, antivirus…


If you are using Windows 10, you will almost certainly already have a free antivirus courtesy of Microsoft. So why would you need to pay for one when you already have a security solution present? Well, here are some genuinely good reasons why you should opt for a paid antivirus application.

No-go for businesses?

In general, antivirus companies do not allow the use of free antivirus in a business, allowing only a strict personal, non-commercial home usage. Why? Some would argue that it’s because there is no reason to kill a lucrative market. However, what most companies need to ensure a solid level of protection goes past the ‘mere antivirus’ tool.

Layered defense technologies built on top of antivirus engines are a minimum of protection for businesses, and anti-malware vendors would rather not promote their basic technologies as a silver bullet for a company’s cybersecurity challenges.

Make sure you read the EULA (End User License Agreement) before completing the installation of any antivirus product, or your company might be in breach of the terms and conditions of use.

You simply get far more by paying

The old adage “you get what you pay for” is true for free software and antivirus in particular. Free antivirus provides just that – free protection against viruses and malware, and nothing more. They often use the same core engine as paid-for solutions, but are stripped of any additional but still important features.

P

Read More

Be the first to write a comment.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Antivirus

10 things I’d never, ever do as an IT professional

I have been working in the IT industry for over 30 years, for most of this time as an editor at PC-WELT (PCWorld’s German sister publication), specializing in security. I test antivirus software, give tips on how to make Windows more secure, am constantly on the lookout for the best security tools…

I have been working in the IT industry for over 30 years, for most of this time as an editor at PC-WELT (PCWorld’s German sister publication), specializing in security. I test antivirus software, give tips on how to make Windows more secure, am constantly on the lookout for the best security tools…
Read More

Continue Reading
Antivirus

Bitdefender Total Security review: One of the top antivirus options you can buy

Bitdefender bundles antivirus and anti-malware with other digital privacy tools to keep you safer. Here’s how it works…

Bitdefender bundles antivirus and anti-malware with other digital privacy tools to keep you safer. Here’s how it works…
Read More

Continue Reading
Antivirus

Best free antivirus 2024: Keep your PC safe without spending a dime

A lot of time is spent looking at the best paid antivirus suites, but free antivirus solutions are worth discussion, too. After all, free versions are based on their paid counterparts. Good news is, when you see a free alternative to a paid version you like…

A lot of time is spent looking at the best paid antivirus suites, but free antivirus solutions are worth discussion, too. After all, free versions are based on their paid counterparts.

Good news is, when you see a free alternative to a paid version you like…
Read More

Continue Reading
Antivirus

Avast security tools hijacked in order to crack antivirus protection

Researchers spot new campaign that can turn off antivirus protection Malware uses legitimate Avast Anti-Rootkit driver to access kernel level Once antivirus is deactivated, the malware can proceed without detection Hackers are using a legitimate Avast Anti-Rootkit driver to disguise their malware, turn off antivirus protection, and infect systems, experts have warned. The vulnerable driver


  • Researchers spot new campaign that can turn off antivirus protection
  • Malware uses legitimate Avast Anti-Rootkit driver to access kernel level
  • Once antivirus is deactivated, the malware can proceed without detection

Hackers are using a legitimate Avast Anti-Rootkit driver to disguise their malware, turn off antivirus protection, and infect systems, experts have warned.

The vulnerable driver has been exploited in a number of attacks since 2021, with the original vulnerabilities being present since at least 2016, research by Trellix, has claimed, noting the malware can use the vulnerable driver to end the processes of security software at the kernel level.

The malware in question belongs to the AV Killer family, with the attack using a vector known as bring-your-own-vulnerable-driver (BYOVD) to infect the system.

Virus can turn off antivirus

Trellix outlined how the malware uses a file named ‘kill-floor.exe’ to place the vulnerable driver named ‘ntfs.bin’ into the default Windows user folder, before using the Service Control executable (sc.exe) to register the driver using the ‘aswArPot.sys’ service.

Included within the malware is a hardcoded list of 142 processes used by common security products, which is used to check system process snapshots for any matches.

The malware then uses the ‘DeviceIoControl’ API to run the relevant commands to end the process, thereby preventing the antivirus from detecting the malware.

The hardcoded list includes processes belonging to a number of security products from names such as McAfee, Avast, Microsoft Defender, BlackBerry, Sophos, and many more.

As BleepingComputer points out, this isn’t the first time a BYOVD attack has exploited a vulnerable Avast driver, with the 2021 Avoslocker ransomware attacks abusing an Avast Anti-R

Read More

Continue Reading