2025 Antivirus and Internet Security Guide

Antivirus software is a security measure that prevents, detects, and removes malware from your computer. Whether you have an old computer or just bought a new one, it likely came with antivirus software.

Antivirus products have been essential since the early days of the internet. Over the years, malicious software has become more advanced, trying to sneak into your computer more easily. Therefore, antiviruses are trying to keep up with the advances of cyberthreats for better protection of your device and data from malware.

Disguised as ads, email links, attachments, and other forms, malware can easily trick you into installing it on your device. But even if you fall for it by accident, a good antivirus can prevent it from infecting your computer. In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about antivirus and internet security from Cybernews experts.

What does antivirus software do?

The purpose of antivirus software is to protect your computer from malware. It performs automatic or manual scans and looks for patterns indicating your computer has malware files. Once antivirus software detects malware, it blocks it from infecting the system.

Which antivirus product should I use?

Windows and Apple operating systems usually include free built-in antivirus. They are suitable for improving basic security but might be insufficient for higher-level protection.

Also, if you have bought a new computer, it likely already includes a trial version of the best antivirus software, like Norton 360, Bitdefender, or McAfee. It’s a great way to test antivirus and see if it’s suitable for you. However, third-party antivirus software might not work well alongside built-in antivirus and can sometimes deactivate it.

Either way, it’s good to research available antivirus software options to find the one that best fits your needs. And no matter which provider you choose, having antivirus software on your computer significantly increases your protection level.

What is the purpose of using antivirus software?

The primary purpose of antivirus software is to protect your computer from malware. It does so by scanning files and looking for patterns that identify malware. Once antivirus detects any suspicious files, it flags them for further examination. If antivirus software knows that the file is a virus, it automatically deletes it.

Threats antivirus software protects you from

You might be surprised by the abundance of lurking cyberthreats. Fortunately, good antivirus software can protect you against malware.

Most antiviruses use real-time protection that constantly scans, detects, and removes malicious software. Also, other security features are commonly included in the service package, like a firewall that monitors outgoing and incoming traffic for suspicious activity. Such measures help prevent potential harm to your device and personal data.

Let's look deeper into the different types of threats that antivirus software can protect you from.

1. Adware, spyware, and ransomware

Malware is software code written to harm a computer system or its users. It allows cybercriminals to gain unauthorized access to infected systems, destroying data and stealing sensitive information.

Some types of malware are more common than others, and that’s the case with adware, spyware, and ransomware. Adware is software that displays pop-ups and messages or opens new windows and tabs on computers or mobile devices. While it’s primarily developed to collect profit from displayed ads, it can also be disguised malware. It not only can gain access to the system, but some adware also works as spyware, collecting information about users and reporting it back to a cybercriminal.

On the other hand, ransomware is a more aggressive form of malware that locks a victim's device or data and threatens to keep it locked or leak it publicly unless the victim pays a ransom to the malicious hacker.

2. Computer worms

A computer worm is malware that can self-replicate and spread from one computer to another without human activation once it has successfully breached the system. It usually spreads across the network through your internet or LAN connection.

A worm gets on the computer either through software vulnerabilities or by deceiving the user into running it. For example, it might disguise itself as legitimate software or use other manipulative social engineering tactics.

3. Keyloggers

Keyloggers is a type of malicious software that records your keystrokes as you type. This allows the cybercriminal to see what you type and locate usernames and passwords to further hack into your system.

There are two types of keyloggers: software and hardware. Software keyloggers rely on infected applications installed on the computer. Once installed, they monitor your keystrokes and send all the information to the malicious hacker. The stolen data includes email, bank or investment accounts, and other websites where users' personal data can be seen.

Unlike software keyloggers, hardware keyloggers require physical connection to the computer to collect sensitive information. For this reason, it’s also important to monitor who has access to your device or network. In some cases, cybercriminals can set up the keylogging device on accessible Wi-Fi, which spares them from having to physically walk up to the device and retrieve the data.

4. Phishing attacks

Phishing is a form of hacking that uses social engineering to manipulate people into exposing their personal information. Phishing commonly uses fraudulent emails, email attachments, text messages, video, or even phone calls, trying to trick people into sharing their logins and personal data and downloading malware.

5. Botnets

A botnet is a computer network that's infected by malware and is controlled by a single attacking party called a “bot herder.” An infected device is referred to as a bot, and it works together with others within the botnet. Botnets are deployed by sending malicious email attachments, trojan horse programs, exploiting software vulnerabilities, and setting up drive-by downloads on compromised websites.

6. Rootkits

Rootkits are malicious programs that allow cybercriminals to infiltrate data on your computer without being detected. They are the most difficult type of malware to detect and remove. Rootkits are frequently used to eavesdrop on users and launch attacks on their devices. Typically, rootkits include multiple malicious tools, like bots, software, and keyloggers.

Usually, rootkits get on your computer through vulnerabilities and infected USB drives that attackers leave in public. These drives are then picked up and plugged into the computer, allowing the hidden malware to successfully install on the machine.

Antivirus software examples

Antivirus software is available in several forms, like standalone antivirus scanners, cloud-based and machine learning programs, and internet security software suites. Among well-known providers offering free and paid services are Norton 360 antivirus, Bitdefender, and McAfee.

Some operating systems that are targeted more often, like Windows and macOS, include free antivirus software. However, these free versions offer basic antivirus and spyware protection, keeping more advanced security features behind a paywall.

How we test antivirus software

At Cybernews, we follow a meticulous antivirus software testing process that we developed over the years. Our team conducts evaluations independently to minimize possible influence and bias from external parties, ensuring impartial assessment of antivirus software. Our protocols include testing performance, security features, user experience, and value for money. Since we apply the same testing guidelines to all the products, we can maintain consistency in our review process.

Therefore, to test the capabilities of antivirus software providers, the Cybernews in-house research team gathers real-world malware samples that reflect current cybersecurity trends and threats. Additionally, we regularly analyze independent lab test results, such as AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives. These independent labs test antiviruses against most common malware threats, reporting the detection rate as a percentage. Such a testing process allows us to ensure reliable and valid information on the effectiveness of the antivirus.

Is antivirus software worth it?

If you want to protect your data and device, having antivirus software on your device is worth it. It can save you a lot of trouble, preventing malicious attacks that steal your data.

For this reason, Windows and Mac devices come with free pre-installed antivirus software. However, they lack some security features, which might still put your data at risk. Compared to third-party antivirus software, like Norton 360, they lack endpoint protection and malware blocking. Therefore, for the highest-level protection against new malware created every day, I recommend choosing third-party antivirus software.