Virus Found Antivirus and Malware Protection

Virus and Malware Protection on Mount Computers

IT&S installs and manages antivirus software on University servers and workstations.

Antivirus for Personal Devices and Home Computers

For students, faculty, and staff who do not have any antivirus protection on their personal computers, there are many free and paid antivirus options. Googling “best antivirus” will give you lots of good information on picking the right antivirus solution for you.

The AV-Test security institute also provides current ratings of antivirus vendors.

Some reputable antivirus companies include (in no particular order):

  1. Microsoft Defender
  2. Trend Micro Antivirus
  3. Bitdefender Antivirus
  4. Norton AntiVirus
  5. McAfee
  6. Webroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus
  7. ESET NOD32 Antivirus
  8. F-Secure Antivirus
  9. Sophos

Apple Macs and Antivirus

If you use Apple Mac computers, it is still advised to install antivirus software, especially if you use it for work. Although there are fewer viruses for Mac computers, they do exist and are becoming more numerous. Google “best mac antivirus” to find protection for your Mac.

Some reputable Mac antivirus companies include (in no particular order):

  1. Norton 360
  2. Bitdefender
  3. Sophos
  4. ESET
  5. Trend Micro

Mobile Devices and Antivirus

We recommend installing security software on your cell phone or other mobile devices. Again, there are numerous free options, and extra protection with some paid versions.

Pop-Up/Ad Blockers and Privacy Protection

Most modern browsers have pop-up blocking features, so make sure to enable them to protect yourself from malicious advertising (malvertising). Some viruses are spread through browser pop-ups.

Modern browsers also may have do-not-track settings to protect your privacy, but plugins like Ad Block and Ghostery offer a higher degree of privacy protection. Google “best ad blockers” to find an ad blocker that’s right for you.

Antivirus Tips

  1. Viruses often try to disable antivirus protection, so periodically check that it is still running.
  2. Antivirus software protects you against malware, including ransomware, but not necessarily brand-new malware that exploit “zero-day” vulnerabilities, so you should still back up your data even if you are using antivirus software.
  3. Set your antivirus software to auto-update its virus definitions and make sure that real-time protection is enabled.