Cybercrime is a global phenomenon and India has been just as affected by it as the rest of the world. According to the economictimes.indiatimes.com, 60% of Indians have been victimized by computer viruses and malware. However, this shouldn’t come as a big surprise given the number of people using the Internet in India; Internet usage in the country this year exceeded half a billion people. Of course, with Internet usage comes viruses and malware. This means that PCs and their data in India are just as much in need of antivirus protection as PCs and their data in other parts of the world. The question, however, is which antivirus is best for PCs in India?
Since we know that PCs in India are subject to the same cyber threats as other PCs around the world, we also know therefore that they need the same types of antivirus solutions as other PCs. With that in mind, below you’ll find a list of the most important features to look for in an antivirus solution wherever your PC is located:
A high detection rate – Today’s antivirus software generally provide between a 99% to 100% detection rate. While those rates can vary depending upon whether you run online or offline scans, that is the detection rate you should require. Anything less than that leaves your system and data open to threats.
24/7, real-time protection – Real-time protection means that your computer is being checked for malware in real-time, so that whenever new files or data are downloaded, or whenever you try to access a file that is already on your computer, your antivirus first scans the software to make sure it is free of malware. If any are detected, you are notified and the malware threats are neutralized.
Automatic updates – Cyber criminals are always creating new malware and whenever these new malware are discovered their virus signatures are added to a virus-signature database that your antivirus software uses to scan and detect malware. Automatic updates make sure that your antivirus is always kept current with the latest virus-signature database. If it’s not updated, it won’t be able to detect the latest malware.
A multi-layer approach – Antivirus software should also take a multilayer approach to detection and protection. Thus, in addition to signature-based detection, which looks for known threats, it should also use heuristics and behavioral detection technologies to guard against new and emerging threats, aka zero-day threats.
Minimal impact on system resources – Antivirus software must use your system’s resources to run, but that use should be minimal and should have a negligible effect on your computer’s performance and responsiveness.
A user-friendly interface – While most users prefer to just install their antivirus software and let it run, a user-friendly interface is still important. Reports should be easy to follow, scans should be easy to execute, and navigating to different menus, settings, tabs, and windows should be easy.
All-inclusive protection – There is an important distinction between free and subscription antivirus software, but it is not in the detection rate or the way malware is detected, as these important features are usually the same. Rather, the distinction is in the additional security features that free antivirus software does not offer, but subscription versions do such as protection against ransomware and phishing, anti-tracking technology, web camera and microphone security, and other advanced safety features. While some consumers might find free antivirus protection sufficient, many businesses wisely opt for more advanced solutions that provide these additional protections.
Only One Conclusion to Draw
Cyber threats are a growing concern worldwide and India is exposed to the same malware, ransomware, phishing, and other cyberthreats to which the rest of the world is exposed. This calls for a powerful antivirus solution that comes with, at a minimum, the features mentioned above. Without an antivirus, your personal and business information is vulnerable to hackers.
