Antivirus rankings: the best solutions under the microscope
Cybersecurity is a high-stakes issue. Whatever your operating system, your business and the way it functions, the threat is both latent and real. It's essential to equip yourself with a real protection solution for your IT assets. What solutions are available, and how can you assess the advantages and disadvantages of antivirus software?
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Cyberthreats and their distribution channels
Different types of risk for your company
What damage can a virus cause? For a company, different levels are affected:
- In terms of productivity, a virus-ridden peripheral is temporarily out. The employee may no longer be able to use it, or have only partial or limited access to it. This temporarily suspends his or her work, until the IT department or a dedicated external service provider resolves the problem.
- In terms of confidentiality, your sensitive information could be stolen. This represents a danger for you - banking data, professional secrecy, etc. - as well as for your customers, suppliers or partners - customer data, e-mails, bilateral sharing.
- In terms of image: a leak suffered by your structure, if it gets out or your network hears about it, casts a veil of discredit over your professionalism. The idea that you didn't anticipate or take the risk seriously can linger in people's minds, damaging the relationships of trust you've built up so far.
- On the competitive side: certain hackers, using blackmail tactics, will threaten to divulge certain information to the press, or - in an even more targeted manner - to your competitors. Your prospecting work, your leads in the process of conversion and your qualified information are all data you don't want to see falling into the hands of structures operating in the same niche as you. This would give them a head start, while threatening the closing of your current pipeline: a threat to your company's survival in the short to medium term.
Faults and vulnerabilities: how to identify and remedy them?
How do viruses get into your IT system? It may be during a business tool update, via the backoffice of your website, or via the intranet and exchanges between employees. Extranet, e-mail and document synchronization in the cloud also represent potential vulnerabilities. Surfing the web also opens doors to malicious programs (malware). A malicious link to a website, for example, or the downloading of a malicious attachment, is a prime example. Just as plugging in a USB stick can contaminate a system.
Protect your business with the best anti-virus solution
Anti-virus reflexes and minimum requirements
There are a number of things you can do in advance: don't open a file sent by a dubious sender, or be wary of a suspicious link, for example. This is already the first step in thwarting phishing attacks and Trojan horse-type adware. This vigilance must be backed up by a firewall and anti-virus software to protect your computer device during use.
Built-in devices and free antivirus solutions
Operating systems often contain built-in firewalls, such as Windows Defender. This can complement the installation of a free antivirus, which often lacks these features. Free antivirus products include the well-known Avast and AVG, as well as Kaspersky and Avira antivir. Microsoft also offers its own: Security Essentials.
The limitations of free antivirus
It should be noted, however, that although these antivirus products are highly effective, they offer only low-level protection for businesses. Suitable for home users, they are less so for business use, and offer fewer features, including no parental controls and no spam filter.
Pay-as-you-go antivirus products and their advantages
Paid antivirus products offer complete suites. Once installed, you don't have to worry about a thing: you're protected at every level. There's McAfee, particularly effective for Windows. Norton's Symantec solution is excellent: it won an award in the av-test antivirus comparison ranking. BitDefender also offers every advantage. For mailbox protection in particular, Altospam effectively protects your e-mail by identifying and filtering spam.
Given the importance of confidentiality and data protection for any company, it's essential to equip yourself with the right cybersecurity tools. Make your data inviolable. Software suites that combine antivirus, firewall, parental control and antispam functions create a favorable environment in which your employees can operate without worry. Minimize risk, in the interests of your company and its future.
Article translated from French