Q: 🙅♂️ Can I just turn off my antivirus while my games are open?

You can, but hackers are expecting you to do this. Malware that can detect when you’re in full screen mode and hacked mods that deploy when you run a game are just a couple of the many dangers of gaming without an antivirus. The reality is, gamers are a huge target for cyber attacks because of their reputation for connecting to the internet without protection. When you have so many gaming-optimized antivirus options , there’s no reason why you should ever turn off your antivirus, even during intense gameplay.

Q: 💻 Are all gaming modes in antivirus software the same?

Yes, and no. Many of the top tier antivirus programs now include a “game mode” which will suspend notifications and scans while you’re in full screen mode. But then there are some — like BullGuard — which will boost your PC’s performance and your processing power will actually improve. Furthermore, customization options, ease of use, and the overall drag on performance are all unique to each program.

Q: 🤷 Can I just use a free online virus scanner and not download anything?

You can, but you shouldn’t. Most of these online programs which offer free virus scans scare you into thinking your computer has malware — even though it doesn’t — and then force you to download their product to “remove” it. It’s better to download a reputable antivirus program from the beginning so you don’t accidentally infect your computer with spyware or ransomware from an online virus scanner.

Q: 🛡️ Which Mac operating systems (OS) do these antiviruses protect?

In general, most antivirus products will be available for OS X 10.10 and later. There are certain instances where newer Macs and operating systems benefit from better service. For instance, my top free antivirus for Mac, Avira , is only available for OS X 10.13 and later. As a rule, it’s always a security issue to not have the latest OS running on your computer. One reason Mac offers updates is because there are vulnerabilities that hackers can break into on older, outdated operating systems. Make sure your computer has an updated OS, and make sure your antivirus is compatible with your system. Always check with the antivirus company before downloading to guarantee that the software will work as intended.

Q: 🕵️ What is spyware and what is anti-spyware software?

Spyware is a type of malware (malicious software) that spies on your device, monitoring your activity and collecting your personal information — often using it to access your online accounts or to perform identity theft. Using spyware, hackers can steal your credit card details, passport number, web browsing history, or any other sensitive info you don’t want falling into the wrong hands. Anti-spyware software is a type of software that detects, removes, and protects against spyware. It can come as part of an antivirus software package or as a standalone application .

Question 1

🕹️ Will an antivirus affect my gaming?

Accepted Answer

Most of them will, yes. Pop-up notifications will jump on screen at bad moments, and virus scans are notorious for their high CPU load. If your antivirus starts scanning files while you’re gaming, it can cause noticeable lag and other performance glitches.

But the best antiviruses — like BullGuard and Norton — won’t affect gameplay at all.

Question 2

🙅‍♂️ Can I just turn off my antivirus while my games are open?

Accepted Answer

You can, but hackers are expecting you to do this. Malware that can detect when you’re in full screen mode and hacked mods that deploy when you run a game are just a couple of the many dangers of gaming without an antivirus.

The reality is, gamers are a huge target for cyber attacks because of their reputation for connecting to the internet without protection. When you have so many gaming-optimized antivirus options, there’s no reason why you should ever turn off your antivirus, even during intense gameplay.

Question 3

💻 Are all gaming modes in antivirus software the same?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and no. Many of the top tier antivirus programs now include a “game mode” which will suspend notifications and scans while you’re in full screen mode. But then there are some — like BullGuard — which will boost your PC’s performance and your processing power will actually improve.

Furthermore, customization options, ease of use, and the overall drag on performance are all unique to each program.

Question 4

🆓 Is there a free antivirus that offers a Game Mode?

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately, all the best antiviruses make you pay for their game modes. But if you’re a gamer on a budget and really need a good free antivirus, I would recommend Avira. It offers fast, high-performance anti-malware protection, even though you’d still need to sacrifice a fair amount of convenience to keep yourself protected.

Question 5

🤔 Can Macs get viruses?

Accepted Answer

There’s a good reason why the myth that “Macs don’t get infected” continues. By design, the Mac operating system is less vulnerable to viruses than Windows.

Mac is based on the Unix operating system, which is sandboxed. This means that even if malware somehow ends up on your Mac, it won’t be able to spread. Also, the chances of malware infecting your device in the first place are slim. Apple’s built-in Gatekeeper function stops you from downloading apps that haven’t been approved by Apple.

But that doesn’t mean you’re immune from problems just because you’re on a Mac. There are all kinds of other serious threats that you need to be protected from, like malware, ransomware, spyware, adware, and phishing attacks. As more and more people use Mac computers, more and more hackers develop new ways of attacking those Mac computers — leaving you vulnerable to cybercrime.

Find yourself a Mac antivirus that fits your specific needs.

Question 6

💪 Are free antiviruses for Mac good enough?

Accepted Answer

It depends what you mean by “enough”. If you want basic protection against the most common threats, then yes. All of the 5 products listed here will protect you from viruses and malware. But they won’t necessarily protect you from other threats like ransomware, spyware, and adware.

If you’re looking for serious protection, you will need to upgrade to a paid product. And this is exactly the trick antivirus companies are using. They offer a very basic free antivirus that’s only giving you simple protection. When you realize you need something more powerful, you already have their product installed on your computer, so you think “I’ll just upgrade to the full version”. By that time, you no longer want to do research and compare brands to find the best product. Instead, you just upgrade whatever free antivirus you already have installed.

I think you shouldn’t make this mistake. If you care about your files, your emails, and your privacy, you should check out the complete list of the best antiviruses for Mac and select the best product for you, even if they don’t offer a free version to upgrade from.

Question 7

🤷 Can I just use a free online virus scanner and not download anything?

Accepted Answer

You can, but you shouldn’t. Most of these online programs which offer free virus scans scare you into thinking your computer has malware — even though it doesn’t — and then force you to download their product to “remove” it.

It’s better to download a reputable antivirus program from the beginning so you don’t accidentally infect your computer with spyware or ransomware from an online virus scanner.

Question 8

🧐 Why do these companies offer free antiviruses?

Accepted Answer

It depends. Many companies like to give you a taste of their premium product so that you’ll realize how valuable their product is and ultimately subscribe to their paid plan. Some companies will even offer free trials of their premium plan so that you can get a sense of what “full protection” looks and feels like, and then they’ll make you pay the upgrade cost to keep your system secure.

There are also companies who realize that cybersecurity is important, and they want to give each person the ability to stay protected in order to guarantee their online safety. All of the companies on our list are committed to protecting each one of its users, regardless of whether or not they’re a paying customer.

Question 9

🛡️ Which Mac operating systems (OS) do these antiviruses protect?

Accepted Answer

In general, most antivirus products will be available for OS X 10.10 and later. There are certain instances where newer Macs and operating systems benefit from better service. For instance, my top free antivirus for Mac, Avira, is only available for OS X 10.13 and later.

As a rule, it’s always a security issue to not have the latest OS running on your computer. One reason Mac offers updates is because there are vulnerabilities that hackers can break into on older, outdated operating systems. Make sure your computer has an updated OS, and make sure your antivirus is compatible with your system.

Always check with the antivirus company before downloading to guarantee that the software will work as intended.

Question 10

🕵️ What is spyware and what is anti-spyware software?

Accepted Answer

Spyware is a type of malware (malicious software) that spies on your device, monitoring your activity and collecting your personal information — often using it to access your online accounts or to perform identity theft.

Using spyware, hackers can steal your credit card details, passport number, web browsing history, or any other sensitive info you don’t want falling into the wrong hands.

Anti-spyware software is a type of software that detects, removes, and protects against spyware. It can come as part of an antivirus software package or as a standalone application.

Question 11

🧐 Are anti-spyware and antivirus software the same thing?

Accepted Answer

No, anti-spyware and antivirus software are not the same thing. After all, spyware and viruses are different types of malware.

Dedicated anti-spyware software detects and removes spyware, and sometimes they fight other related types of malware such as adware (unwanted advertising software).

Technically, antivirus software only fights viruses. However, “antivirus software” can also be a broader term for software that fights lots of different types of malware. The best antivirus products, such as Norton and TotalAV, have powerful anti-spyware protection included in their products — but many antivirus products don’t include spyware protection.

Question 12

🔎 How does anti-spyware software work?

Accepted Answer

Anti-spyware software can protect your personal information by:

Detecting and removing spyware already present on your device.
Preventing you from downloading spyware.
Encrypting your files to secure your private data.
Encrypting your keystrokes to confuse “keylogger” spyware.
Blocking access to your device’s camera or microphone.
Scanning the dark web for signs that your personal information has been stolen.

Question 13

💾 How can I install anti-spyware software?

Accepted Answer

You can install anti-spyware software by purchasing it from a reputable cybersecurity company and downloading it from their website.

Be careful when downloading free anti-spyware software. Some anti-spyware software, known as “rogue anti-spyware software”, is actually spyware in disguise. You can trust all the antivirus and anti-spyware products on this list.

For most users, I recommend Norton for a powerful, easy-to-use antivirus application that provides advanced spyware protection and SUPERAntiSpyware for a dedicated anti-spyware solution.

Question 14

😈 What’s the difference between viruses and malware?

Accepted Answer

Malware means any malicious software designed to damage or compromise a computer, device, or network. It sometimes goes by other names and can take on a lot of different forms, but if it’s software designed for some kind of malicious attack on a computer system or network, it’s malware.

Examples include:

Trojan Horse. Malware that tricks you into installing it.
Ransomware. Locks your device or turns your files into random strings of code until you pay a ransom.
Spyware. Logs your keystrokes and device activity, and it steals your personal information and passwords.

Viruses are one type of malware. Computer viruses act like organic viruses — they infect a system and then multiply. They do this by inserting malicious code into the various pieces of software installed on that system.

Question 15

👩🏼‍💻 What’s the difference between antivirus software and anti-malware software?

Accepted Answer

Antivirus software specializes in fighting viruses. It can be one of several tools that you use to keep your devices safe against this specific threat. That said, antivirus software is a crucial part of your security toolkit. Viruses still represent a significant risk in today’s computing world, especially on Windows.

But viruses are no longer the only threat. The best anti-malware software detects and destroys a much broader range of malicious applications. True protection requires antivirus and anti-malware software working together to fight off attacks.

It’s also worth noting that because the term “antivirus” is well-known among consumers, many brands associate this term with their product despite actually offering much broader protection. You need to look in detail at the features each program provides.

Question 16

😀 What’s the best anti-malware software for Windows?

Accepted Answer

All of the programs on this list offer great protection for Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.

I particularly like Norton’s Windows program, and Avira’s lightweight scanning engine is great for slower Windows computers which are low on hard drive space.

Question 17

📋 How do I know if my computer is infected with malware?

Accepted Answer

Signs that malware is present on a device can include:

Pop-up ads. Excessive pop-up ads are signs of an adware infection.
Error messages. Malware can cause unexpected device and software errors.
Performance issues. Malware can use lots of device resources, resulting in poor performance.

Malware can have many effects, including:

Logging your keystrokes and taking screenshots of what you’re doing online.
Stealing your credit card information and account login details.
Physically damaging your device or rendering your private documents inaccessible.

If you notice any of these signs, download a program like Norton or Malwarebytes immediately and do a full system scan.

Question 18

🤔 Does anti-malware software replace an antivirus?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily. Many antiviruses only protect against viruses, and they don’t offer protection against other kinds of malware. But an antivirus like Norton or TotalAV offers full anti-malware protection.

Question 19

🔒 Are antivirus apps safe?

Accepted Answer

Android antivirus apps are not always safe, especially free ones.

Scanning for malware requires deep-level access to the most sensitive parts of your device. Malicious antivirus apps can easily compromise your privacy and security and steal your info.

I’ve thoroughly tested the 5 apps on our list. Each one comes from a brand with a strong reputation for creating excellent cybersecurity software. For example, my top free antivirus provider, Bitdefender, has over half a billion total users worldwide.

Question 20

🛡️ Why does android need an antivirus?

Accepted Answer

Your Android device is a valuable possession that contains highly sensitive data. And when compared to other platform providers like iOS, Android is not a secure operating system.

In addition to visiting malicious websites, various Android apps can easily access all areas of your device. Even many of the apps available on the Google Play Store have been known to contain malware.

Question 21

📋 Which android devices will these apps work with?

Accepted Answer

All of the Android antivirus apps on our list will work with any Android smartphone or tablet running Android KitKat 4.4 (released in 2014) or above.

There are also antivirus apps available for other Android devices, such as Bitdefender Mobile Security & Antivirus, which integrates with Android smartwatches, and ESET Smart TV Security.

Question 22

📱 What kind of features can you get with an android antivirus app?

Accepted Answer

In addition to detecting and removing malware, a free Android antivirus application can:

Keep your personal information private (we recommend Avira Antivirus for privacy protection).
Protect you from malicious websites (ESET Mobile Security provides a free anti-phishing tool).
Prevent loss or theft of your device (McAfee Mobile Security has some particularly effective anti-theft tools).
Ensure you’re connected to a secure Wi-Fi network (McAfee can also do this).

Most antivirus apps also offer additional paid premium features, and for every free app out there, there are dozens more premium apps. If you know that your phone contains sensitive info that you don’t want getting out, don’t risk it with a free antivirus app. Get a premium app that has the protection you need to stay safe. For example, Norton Mobile Security provides powerful protection against ransomware, and Bitdefender Mobile Security & Antivirus provides VPN access and smartwatch integration.

Question 23

❓ Why does Windows need an antivirus?

Accepted Answer

Some people think that Windows is secure enough, especially later editions like Windows 10. But this false sense of security leaves you vulnerable to all sorts of cyber attacks. Malware, spyware, adware, ransomware, and other types of harmful security threats affect thousands of Windows users every day who think they don’t need to protect their Windows machine with an antivirus.

If you want to keep your data secure and your system immune from hacks, you absolutely need to stay protected with an antivirus. Even better, you can invest in some anti-spyware protection as well for a super strong cybersecurity defense.

Question 24

🤔 Why should I use another free antivirus instead of Windows Defender?

Accepted Answer

Windows Defender is a great product for basic needs. It detects and protects against viruses pretty well, and the included Windows Firewall is pretty good. But it doesn’t offer protection against other cyber threats like ransomware or phishing scams.

Many free antiviruses, like Avira, not only protect against these threats, but they are on the front lines of cybersecurity and know how to keep you safe better than Windows Defender.

Question 25

😈 What are the most common types of viruses that affect Windows computers?

Accepted Answer

Trojans are usually the go-to viruses for hackers looking to infect or steal your personal data. These are viruses that look like other files with extensions like .exe and .doc. But once downloaded, if you don’t have an antivirus installed on your PC, you will be running a serious virus that could debilitate your machine and potentially send all of your information to a hacker. A good antivirus will stop you from running that virus on your PC. An even better antivirus will stop you from downloading that virus in the first place.

That said, there are potentially millions of new and dangerous threats for Windows, so it’s crucial that your virus protection is updated with the latest known malware database.

Question 26

🛡️ Will Windows allow me to install a free antivirus?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! In fact, I recommend you choose Avira as a secure way of protecting your PC for free.

But if you’re looking for advanced protection and a lot of other great cybersecurity features, check out the list of the best premium antivirus products on the market.

Question 27

👍 Is Windows Defender enough to stay protected?

Accepted Answer

It depends what you mean by “enough”. Windows Defender offers some decent cybersecurity protection, but it’s nowhere near as good as most premium antivirus software. If you’re just looking for basic cybersecurity protection, then yes, Windows Defender is fine. But if you have a lot of sensitive information on your device which might attract hackers — banking info, login details, private files — then no, it’s not “enough”.

Question 28

😈 Can Windows Defender remove malware?

Accepted Answer

Yes. If Windows Defender detects malware, it will remove it from your PC. However, because Windows doesn’t update Defender’s virus definitions regularly, the newest malware won’t be detected, and as such, relying on Windows Defender as your sole antivirus puts your entire PC at risk of infection.

There are better free Windows antiviruses out there which get updated regularly. But no free antivirus can offer the kind of guaranteed malware protection that the best anti-malware programs can.

Question 29

🛡️ Can Windows Defender protect against phishing scams?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Windows Defender Browser Protection extension is designed to protect you from a wide range of online cybersecurity threats, including phishing emails and malicious sites which attempt to steal your personal information.

Question 30

🆓 Is Windows Defender free?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Windows Defender is free for all PCs that have Windows 7, Windows 8.1, or Windows 10 installed. But there are better free Windows antiviruses out there.

Question 31

🤔 Should I replace Windows Defender with another antivirus?

Accepted Answer

While Windows Defender has made a lot of progress over the past couple of years, Windows hasn’t been consistent about updating its software in line with the latest malware trends.

Using Windows Defender as a standalone antivirus, while much better than not using any antivirus at all, still leaves you vulnerable to ransomware, spyware, and advanced forms of malware that can leave you devastated in the event of an attack.

Here at SafetyDetectives, we recommend one of the following options:

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