Articles tagged: antimalware

Windows Security

What Security Software Do You Recommend? (2024 Q4 update)

Here are my latest recommendations for specific security software and techniques.

Malware

Do I Need More Than One Anti-malware Tool?

It's tempting to think more is better when it comes to security software. In reality, too many can cause trouble.

Peek

Why Did My Security Software Not Detect a Virus on My PC?

Even with up-to-date anti-malware tools, you can still fall victim to malware. I'll explain why by comparing your computer to your... bathroom?

Virus Detected!

What’s the Best Anti-Virus?

There just isn't a best. Knowing that will (hopefully) lead you in a safer direction.

Ransomware!

Will Ransomware Encrypt Backups?

A full-image backup is still the best defense against ransomware. But what if your backup gets encrypted? I'll look at the likelihood of that happening and make some recommendations.

Open Hard Disk

Why would scanning a disk be quick, but just a file on it be slow?

If that large file is a backup image, then maybe your anti-malware tool knows what I know... that there's no point in scanning it.

Data data and more networked data...

How do I safely switch from one security tool to another?

If you follow a few security measures it's perfectly safe to uninstall an old anti-malware program and then install your new choice.

Vault

Can I Delete What My Anti-malware Program Puts in Quarantine?

Quarantine gives you the option to "rescue" files you might want. Of course there is one way to make sure you always have an extra copy of everything...

Webcam

Should I Cover My Webcam When Not in Use?

Sure, you can cover your webcam with tape. But that won't solve the real problem... you've got malware on your computer!

Virus

How do I protect my Windows XP after they stop sending updates?

When Microsoft stops support for XP your computer will keep working. The big problem is unsupported vulnerabilities.

Virus in a Picture?

Can I get malware from a picture?

Typically there's no need to be terrified of clicking on images... as long as you know what to look for and how to manage your protection.

Windows Defender

Do I Need to Deactivate My Old Anti-virus Before Installing the New One?

It's best to uninstall old anti-virus software before installing a new one, assuming you make sure to stay safe during the transition.

Tug of War

Do I really need to uninstall these programs to update my anti-virus?

When you install a new anti-malware tool on a machine that has similar programs already, you may see a warning about possible conflicts. Basically, you have three choices to continue.