Although it is essential to safeguard your computer with one of the best antivirus solutions, a common question that may arise is: Is it necessary to pay for an antivirus program? In brief, the answer is no.
Nonetheless, you still need some form of protection for your computer, and while the reasons should be clear, here’s a reminder: Operating without any antivirus software leaves your computer completely vulnerable to various kinds of malware, spyware, ransomware, viruses, trojans, and bots that can cause significant damage to your system, compromise your sensitive and personal information, and, in the worst-case scenario, completely disrupt your life.
Windows Defender: A complimentary built-in option
The good news is that there are many free antivirus solutions available for your computer, starting with Windows Defender, which is integrated into Microsoft’s operating system.
Windows Defender actually provides quite a bit for a complimentary program. It delivers strong protection against malware, has minimal impact on system performance, and includes features like silent mode, a hardened browser (for Microsoft Edge), ransomware file recovery, and 24/7 support through email and telephone. Additionally, you can schedule scans.
You might have observed that it lacks several features found in paid programs, such as a file shredder, password manager, firewall, parental controls, and a VPN. However, foregoing these features is one of the compromises you accept when choosing a free option, which is frequently the case.
If you are seeking a security suite that includes all those functionalities, you may want to consider Norton 360 Deluxe, which we identify as the most feature-rich antivirus software.
Other free antivirus options
Windows Defender isn’t your sole free alternative; Bitdefender, our top overall paid choice, also provides a free tier with Bitdefender Antivirus Free for Windows.
It has the same excellent malware protection, an easy-to-navigate interface, and rapid scanning as its paid counterpart.
When we assessed Bitdefender’s free antivirus, we appreciated how simple it was to install and then let it run. However, the scanning engine consumed a significant amount of system resources and lacked features such as a file shredder, password manager, and customer support.
Similarly, Avast, Avira, and AVG all offer free versions of their products that we have reviewed previously.
We liked Avast’s features, which include a password manager, Wi-Fi network scanner, and a silent gaming mode, as well as the ability to adjust its sensitivity. However, we felt it provided mediocre malware protection and had lengthy scanning times while being resource-intensive.
In addition, Avira Free Antivirus includes a firewall and browser extensions that can evaluate websites based on their reputation and guard against unwanted extensions. Additional features like a password manager and VPN can be downloaded through the Avira Free Security Suite. However, like Avast, it impacts system performance significantly without the robust antivirus protection we prefer.
AVG was straightforward to use during our tests and provided some customization options along with several solid extras like a file shredder. We found it was not resource-heavy, but its malware protection was only rated as “average,” which might be too much of a compromise.
Why pay for antivirus software?
What benefits come with paying for antivirus software?
Well, paid options generally extend beyond free ones and provide more comprehensive security features, superior defenses against unknown or newer threats, and a more extensive set of features including a VPN, password manager, a file shredder that fully eliminates deleted files, and may protect more devices such as tablets and smartphones.
Paid antivirus software typically provides customer support via phone, chat, and email, whereas free versions do not.
Paid services also introduce additional functionalities, such as the ability to customize your antivirus service, features for blocking suspicious websites, and backup services for saving data or backing up your devices. They might also offer functionalities like webcam protection, remote desktop prevention to stop others from taking control of your system, and the capacity to run specific applications or software in a “sandbox” environment.
If the essentials will suffice, a free antivirus may be adequate; however, if you desire something more feature-rich, paid options are worth considering.
Remember, many paid antivirus suites also provide a free 30-day trial, allowing you to test their product for a limited time before reaching your final decision.
FBI issues warning — hackers are using fake PDF converters to spread malware and steal your passwords
Be cautious when using online PDF converters, as the FBI has recently issued a warning about threat actors using these file conversion services to distribute infostealing malware.
According to the Indian Express, CloudSEK, a security firm, has identified an attack that mimics pdfcandy.com to deceive users into downloading the ArechClient malware, which is part of the SectopRAT family of infostealers.
The ArechClient malware has been operational for several years and is utilized to capture sensitive personal data and information such as usernames, browser passwords, and information related to crypto wallets.
The report indicates that this latest phishing site, along with similar ones, attracted over 6,000 visits last month, demonstrating that threat actors have been actively exploiting this malware to steal data.
Although many individuals search for a PDF converter online, this site has replicated various visual elements including the logo and the domain name, using candyxpdf[.]com and candycoverterpdf[.]com to appear credible.
The counterfeit site permits users to upload a PDF file to convert it into a Word document, which requires CAPTCHA verification for completion. Upon finishing the CAPTCHA, users receive a prompt to execute a PowerShell command to start downloading the malware that is saved onto their computers as ‘adobe.zip.’
How to remain safe
Since this malware depends on users visiting imitation websites instead of the legitimate company site they intend to access, exercising extreme caution and vigilance regarding the websites you visit to download software is vital.
Ensure that you are downloading software from trustworthy sources, and verify the URLs you are visiting and the developer pages multiple times.
It is also advisable to have one of the top antivirus programs installed and updated before you start downloading files from the internet—many of these programs include features that can help shield you from malware as well as offers like a VPN or a fortified browser that can enhance your online security.
Remember, there are offline tools available that can perform file conversions as well.
No matter how tech-savvy you believe you are, you’ve probably relied on a free online file converter for assistance in quickly changing a file from one format to another. However, you might want to reconsider using these tools, as the FBI is currently alerting about hackers utilizing these free services to disseminate harmful malware to vulnerable computers.
Whether you aim to convert a PDF to a DOC or change a WebP image to a JPEG, finding the most effective way to switch between popular file types can be confusing. While Microsoft Office and other writing software have this capability integrated, it’s easy to impulsively open your browser and search for a free online file converter.
In a recent statement, the FBI Denver Field Office cautioned that cybercriminals have taken advantage of this situation to develop malicious sites that instead of converting files, actually install malware on your device.
Here’s all you need to know regarding this recent online scam, along with some tips and techniques to help you protect yourself from hackers and the malware they deploy in their attacks.
From file conversion to malware infection
From changing one file format to another to merging several images into a single PDF file, cybercriminals are now using various online tools as a bait in their attacks. It’s also straightforward for them to entice people to click on these tools by employing malicious ads that appear at the top of search results.
Though many of these tools perform exactly as promised, the FBI emphasizes that along with your converted files, you might also be unintentionally downloading malware onto your computer or Mac. This isn’t the only tactic utilized in this novel campaign, however.
Unwary users may be persuaded to download a conversion tool to their computer, which is, in fact, malware, or they could be misled into installing a harmful browser extension that can compromise their browsing history and pilfer their browser data.
Once this malware is installed on a victim’s computer, it can exfiltrate personal information as well as Social Security numbers (SSNs), financial details like banking passwords, session tokens that can bypass multi-factor authentication (MFA), and much more.
The primary concern with this latest online file converter scam is that numerous victims remain unaware that their computers have been compromised until it’s too late. Such infections can result in you getting locked out of your device by ransomware or potentially becoming a victim of identity theft.
In a blog post covering this new threat, the team at MalwareBytes Labs has put together a list of malicious domains used recently in these attacks and the specific threat they pose. These are all sites you want to actively avoid:
- Imageconvertors[.]com – Phishing
- convertitoremp3[.]it – Riskware
- convertisseurs-pdf[.]com – Riskware
- convertscloud[.]com – Phishing
- convertix-api[.]xyz – Trojan
- convertallfiles[.]com – Adware
- freejpgtopdfconverter[.]com – Riskware
- primeconvertapp[.]com – Riskware
- 9convert[.]com – Riskware
- Convertpro[.]org – Riskware
Since hackers have a large number of domains at their disposal, the sites listed above will likely be moved to a new domain soon. Still, it’s worth looking out for these ones in particular as they have previously been used in attacks.