Do internet security and ant-virus/anti-spyware programs actually remove malware or just quarantine it? Also, what is the major difference between Malwarebytes and an internet security program? Do they both do the same thing? Is one better than the other? When should Malwarebytes be used? Any help is greatly apprciated.
? about anti-malware and anti-virus
- Thread starter afrench89
- Start date
Most of todays infections are actually malware, which a traditional virus program won't catch. Malwarebytes or Superantispyware is highly recommended to run along side a virus program.
As far as deleting/quarantining, it all depends on the infection and where its located on your system.
As far as deleting/quarantining, it all depends on the infection and where its located on your system.
ErikAlbert
New Member
All scanners (Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware, Anti-Trojan, etc.) are based on blacklisting and that is the weakness of all scanners.
1. If a malware is not on the blacklist of a scanner, the scanner will not detect/remove it from your system, although the scanner will tell you "Congratulations !!! No malware found." and that message will comfort your mind, but that doesn't mean your system is malware-free.
2. All scanners have a different blacklist because they are made by different people. They all have many malware in common, but some have more or less malware on their blacklist than others.
That's why users, who replace their scanner by another one, find some malware on their system after the first scan of their new scanner, which was never reported before by their previous scanner.
3. Scanners report sometimes good objects as malware, which are called "False Positives". Ignorant users will remove the false positives and damage their own system, which can cause problems sooner or later. Some scanners have more or less false positives than other scanners.
4. Some scanners detect certain malware, but don't remove it or remove it partial, while other scanners will remove them completely.
5. New malware needs to be discovered first, then blacklisted and updated worldwide. This takes some time, meanwhile you are not protected against that new malware.
In the past, it happened a few times, that a new malware succeeded to damage many computers worldwide, because that malware was not blacklisted on any scanner.
For instance, the "I love you"-virus/worm caused 5,5 billion dollar damage worldwide. This happens regularly, but not on such a large scale.
6. If you are infected by a malware and your main scanner doesn't remove it,
you have to install another scanner, but which scanner does remove that specific malware. In most cases it's a wild guess, so you have to install one scanner after another until that malware is removed and this can take hours.
7. Specific for AV-scanners, you can have only one main AV-scanner, because more than one AV-scanner can result in conflicts between them.
So you can only depend on one AV-scanner on a daily base, so it better be a good scanner.
8. Some organisations test scanners and there is always a winner, but these tests can't be trusted either, because these organisations use different test-environments. That's why NOD32 is a winner in one test and a loser in another test.
Now it's upto you to use scanners or no scanners at all.
I decided not to use any scanner about 5 years ago.
1. If a malware is not on the blacklist of a scanner, the scanner will not detect/remove it from your system, although the scanner will tell you "Congratulations !!! No malware found." and that message will comfort your mind, but that doesn't mean your system is malware-free.
2. All scanners have a different blacklist because they are made by different people. They all have many malware in common, but some have more or less malware on their blacklist than others.
That's why users, who replace their scanner by another one, find some malware on their system after the first scan of their new scanner, which was never reported before by their previous scanner.
3. Scanners report sometimes good objects as malware, which are called "False Positives". Ignorant users will remove the false positives and damage their own system, which can cause problems sooner or later. Some scanners have more or less false positives than other scanners.
4. Some scanners detect certain malware, but don't remove it or remove it partial, while other scanners will remove them completely.
5. New malware needs to be discovered first, then blacklisted and updated worldwide. This takes some time, meanwhile you are not protected against that new malware.
In the past, it happened a few times, that a new malware succeeded to damage many computers worldwide, because that malware was not blacklisted on any scanner.
For instance, the "I love you"-virus/worm caused 5,5 billion dollar damage worldwide. This happens regularly, but not on such a large scale.
6. If you are infected by a malware and your main scanner doesn't remove it,
you have to install another scanner, but which scanner does remove that specific malware. In most cases it's a wild guess, so you have to install one scanner after another until that malware is removed and this can take hours.
7. Specific for AV-scanners, you can have only one main AV-scanner, because more than one AV-scanner can result in conflicts between them.
So you can only depend on one AV-scanner on a daily base, so it better be a good scanner.
8. Some organisations test scanners and there is always a winner, but these tests can't be trusted either, because these organisations use different test-environments. That's why NOD32 is a winner in one test and a loser in another test.
Now it's upto you to use scanners or no scanners at all.
I decided not to use any scanner about 5 years ago.
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Well, Antivirus software programs play an important role in ensuring the safety and security of your PC. There are several anti virus available in Market, but I'll personally recommend avast! . I am also using it on my machine.
You might refer this site for more information : http://www.iyogi.ca/antivirus/antivirus-software.html
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You might refer this site for more information : http://www.iyogi.ca/antivirus/antivirus-software.html
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