Do You Need Antivirus Software on Your PC?
Published:
By Rich Wagoner, CITP.CPA | Principal, Technology Services Group
Yes, but that is only part of the entire PC health and security environment. Here are a couple of thoughts to help you understand why there is much more to it than just antivirus software.
No one PC type or brand is exempt from attacks. Every platform can be exploited by an attacker. Some people believe that MAC, for example, does not need AV protection. This is simply not true and as they become more and more widely used there will be a higher level of attacks targeted to the MAC Apple OS. In a Forbes article on April 4, 2012:
“a completely different threat is facing Mac users. It is estimated that some 600,000 Macs have been taken over as part of a botnet by a new variant of an old Trojan called Flashback. This Trojan spreads via infected web pages and exploits Java vulnerabilities that have been known for some time, yet Apple didn’t see fit to release a patch until this week (Java for Mac OS X 10.6 Update 7 and Java for OS X Lion 2012-001).”
Good browsing and downloading habits are not enough. We all should know that going to “inappropriate sites” and downloading pirated software puts you at a much higher risk of attack, but we have even seen a few of our client websites get hacked with viruses that spread to the machine of visitors, like drive by attacks. Even some of the search engine results can be deceiving and send you to inappropriate sites. Be leery when someone on Facebook says they can’t believe your pic and then share a link – our guess is that it’s not a picture on the other end of that link.
No AV program is, or will ever be, perfect. AV software vendors unfortunately are primarily reactive in their development of the software while at the same time malware developers are consistently and quickly developing programs that can get around the detection of the AV programs. Most of the top AV programs continue to develop advanced detection methods for new undeveloped malware and they can eliminate most threats but will never be able to claim a 100% protection rate. It is critical that this application continually be updated and renewed if you are using a paid version.
Know what you are installing on your PC. A number of malware infections come installed as ride-a-longs to other software that you might be downloading and installing. You should always read the install steps and pay close attention to the check boxes that you are approving as you click next, next, next during the installation. Be skeptical of prompts to download software when browsing.
Unpatched systems and software are more vulnerable. Developers of malware are always looking to exploit holes in the applications and operating systems that we use. Most OS and even a lot of the software applications allow for automatic updates or will at least prompt you when something is ready to be updated. Pay attention to these prompts and act appropriately to keep your systems current. Windows XP and Office 2003 end of life is April 8th, 2014. This means updates to these two systems ends but the developers will not stop exploiting issues they can find in the systems! Are you moving to Windows 7 / 8 or Office 2010/13 yet?
Don’t let the kids ruin the party. Setup alternative logins for your other family members and restrict the access to administrative functions such as installing programs and downloading stuff from the internet. This way the standard account users have to talk to you for permission before installing any new software which in turn gives you an opportunity to stop any unnecessary installations and avoid potential problems.
So what should you use? Well for home use we would recommend the free Microsoft Security Essentials, which is available for download or as an optional update on systems where Windows does not detect an antivirus program. For the corporate user, I would recommend something that can be installed and monitored on all PCs and allows for centralized management for updates and monitoring. We typically recommend AVG Cloud Care for that application.
Contact
Rich Wagoner, CITP, CPA | Principal, Technology Services Group | 317.240.4400 | rwagoner@greenwaltcpas.com